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HIBRARY OF CONGRESS. # 

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UNITED STATES OP AMERICA.! 



^VH0PKINS<.S()KST1| I 
BOOK^^HOUSM\ 



AMERICA DISCOYEPiED 



1 l^cem 



IK TWELVE BOOKS 



AN AMERICAN 






L.a.^'be.^^^ 




NEW-YORK : 

PRINTED BY JOHN F. TROW, 49, 51 & 53 ANN-ST. 
1«50. 



El 110 
.C3^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, 

By JOHN F, TROW, 

In tlie Clerk's Office of tl>e District Court of the United States for the Southern District 
of New-York. 



ANALYSIS. 

In the following poem, our world is supposed to be under the minis- 
try of angels. These heavenly hierarchs meet among the mountains of 
Chili, in South America, about the year 1450, to deliberate on the best 
mode of making known this continent to Europeans. The result of 
these deliberations is, that two of their number, Abdah and Habdiel, 
are delegated to spread the matter before the throne of the Eternal. In 
their journey through space, they light on two worlds, the one fallen, but 
not redeemed ; the other unfallen. They afterwards reach the place of 
their destination, are entertained by Hallan, a former acquaintance, have 
interviews with Abraham, Adam, etc., and are finally admitted to the 
presence of the Son of God, where they obtain their petition. On their 
return, Abdah is appointed to suggest the matter to Columbus, then a 
youth at the college of Pavia, and also to superintend him in all his 
changes to the iinal consummation of the enterprise. He first appears 
to the youthful Genoese while musing on the banks of the Tesino, in the 
character of a Swass shepherd. The suggestion makes the student rest- 
less ; he longs to go to sea ; is opposed by Ella, his betrothed ; argues her 
into acquiescence ; her tragical death ; his voyage described to the foot 
of Italy. He coasts along the shores of Greece and the islands of the 
JEgean. A Turkish ship is taken, in which is found a Genoese captain, 
who relates to them the capture of Constantinople. He is shipwrecked 
afterwards on the coast of Portugal, where his Guardian Angel appears 
to him a second time, and encourages him to persevere. His marriage 



IV ANALYSIS. 

to Doiia Felipa of Lisbon, described. His prospects with John failing, 
upon the death of his wife, he enters Spain, where in great poverty he 
and his son are entertained at the Convent of Perez de Marchena, who 
advises him to lay the subject before the Spanish sovereigns. He comes 
before them at Cordova ; they are absorbed in war with the Moors, but 
recommend him to the college of Salamanca. He finally, through the 
agency of the Queen, obtains his end and sails on the voyage. The 
parting scene, the ocean, the landing, etc., described. In the last Book 
Columbus is presented in prison, where Abdah appears to him for the 
last time, and assures him of an immortality of fame ; reveals to him the 
real greatness of his discovery ; sketches the history of the continent to 
the present time ; predicts the future, and gives a glowing description of 
the North American Republic. Here the poem ends. 



BOOK I. 

THE CONVENTION. 

Queen of tlie silent hour, fair Dian, drives 
O'er heav'nly pavements, gemmed witli sapphires bright, 
Her silver car, that to the slumb'ring forest gives 
And waves pale joy ; as when the tender light 
Of beauty's fading eye half-smiling lives 
Upon the smitten heart. O'er nature Night 
Beyond her pole prevails ; her evening portals wet 
With matin dews, her locks with radiant moonbeams set. 



Late from their leafy bed, with eye of flame, 
High leap o'er mountain-heath, the tiger, bear, 
Or lowly crouching bend their dreaded frame, 
On some lone fawn to bound, or trembling hare. 
Swift through the parting leaves, high bent on game, 
Loud shrieks the kingly owl, like trumpet clear ; 
While prostrate 'neath his bushy tent the Indian lies, 
And drowns the warrior's cares in sleep's unclosing eyes. 



G AMEETCA DISCOVERED. 

Not thus the Guardians of man's earthly toil, 
Who sleep's refreshing balm and rest ne'er know, 
Seeking by day and through the night to foil 
Satan's designs — our great and mortal foe. 
Swift through the air and o'er the busy soil 
'They move, on wings unseen by man below. 
Where power its throne exalts high wreathed in clouds of fire 
They watch — and where the saddened poor on straw expire. 



And lest amid their ranks of peace before, 
Discord new-born should raise its grating sound, 
Wise Heaven divided just the common power, 
To each assigning fixed his office, bound. 
The South was Hazel's, vast but desert shore ; 
Azzan's the North, more blest, and happier ground ; 
Habd'el's wise hand embraced where first the dawn appears. 
Great Abdah ruled where parting suns dissolve in tears. 



These were the Chieftains in th' angelic hosts 

That guard our race. Round each, high stand in files 

Belligerent and strong, like ocean's coasts, 

A mighty army spreading forth for miles. 

Of vict'ries gained, but ne'er defeat, each boasts ; 

Of friends protected, enemies slain in piles. 
With burnished spear and sword, and some with silver bow, 
They serve with cheerful heart around each Chieftain low. 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

When once the silver trump of war is heard 
From Hazel, Azzan, Habdiel. or th' mouth 
Of mighty Abdah, forth they rush with sword 
Outdrawn to east or west, to north or south. 
Prepared to execute by force the word, 
And fill, if need, all earth with burning wrath. 

So angry winds the son of Hippotas obey ; 

So raised doth Neptune's wand great Ocean's wrath allay. 



Full often too. when grave occasion called, 
When vice was honored, virtue trampled down ; 
When in the prison's cell the good were walled, 
And free oppression wore its diamond crown ; 
When murd'rers and thieves lived unappalled. 
And they who prayed to deserts wild were flown — 
Full oft these heav'nly Guards in one great onset join, 
And with resistless force break wide Hell's boastful line. 



And often too, when things were in a maze. 
And no straight line through wild confusion lay ; 
When Wisdom staggered in her well-plann'd ways, 
And Truth was stamm'ring what right word to say ; 
When half-wrought deeds coy Prudence still delays, 
And thrcat'ning fates o'erhang each passing day — 
In woful times like these, oft would the Chieftains meet. 
And hold in secret conclave pure and high debate. 



8 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Such time there was ; and on Cozanti's brow — 
Cozanti — fiiircst of the Ancles' heights ; 
Where Spring comes hiughing from the wint'rj snow, 
And Summer lingers in her sweet moon-nights ; 
Where tall the fir and chestnut i:)roudlj grow, 
And round the haw the woodbine wreathed unites — 
There meet the summoned Chiefs in golden armor clad, 
Each face illumed with thought, each heart with musings sad. 



Nor come they yet alone — a royal suite. 
Selected wisely from each angel band, 
Attend their Chief revered, and at his feet 
Stand nearly to obe}^ each known command. 
So, when in battle mighty warriors meet, 
A vet'ran few around their Sovereign stand ; 

Victor, prepared with him th' opposing hosts to slay ; 

Or conquered, die with him on such eventful day. 



A place there is on fair Cozanti's breast. 
Wide arched by vernal boughs of gloomy height. 
Around are grayish rocks, that deeply rest 
As bulwarks firm, to guard the chosen site. 
Fresh from its spring a silver fountain blest 
Flows sparkling onward in the quiet night : 
A font with lymph so pure, that e'en celestial lips 
Might quaff the stream of joy as o'er the rock it skips. 



AMEEK'A DISCOVERED. 

High seats ascend from side to distant side 
Of solid rock, a granite theatre. 
Far back and central one. whose summit wide 
Looked in the distance dim, as seen by star 
Or lunar ra}^, the dark and massive side 
Of some proud fane. From crossing boughs all clear 
And dewy leaves that gcntl}' moved to passing winds, 
Soft as the smile of Spring, the wavy light descends. 



In this wide capitol, with nature all 
For audit'ry, the angel Chiefs convene. 
Abdah first rose, all fair and princely tall. 
High o'er his arching brow was radiant seen 
Pure light, while loud like cat'ract's roar, clear tall 
The tones, that gush his iv'ry lips between. 
Fixed on his words with joy each list'ning ear reposed, 
And Night her dews forgot till ho descending closed. 



'■ Brave Chieftains of the Lord, ye hosts of light, 
AVlio kind from other lands have sought this plac< 
A hearty welcome take ye all this night, 
A triple welcome to this wilderness. 
No stone-raised palace with its turrets bright, 
No golden gate with many-diamond fiice ; 
No throne of iv'ry, crown of various pearl ye see — 
'Tis nature wild and vast that now around you be. 



10 AMERICA DISCO VEKED. 

'' These mighty lands, by wild beasts long possessed, 
And long by savages more rude than they. 
With Christian cities have not yet been blest ; 
Unfelled tlie giant oak. the pine, the bay. 
Their virgin soil no farmer's spade has pressed. 
No shepherd's gangs along their valleys play — 
Majestic rivers, mountains vast, are all we boast, 
Proud lakes, rich valleys and interminable coast. 



'' A land of promise great, but unsubdued 
By civil arts and true religion fair. 
The wild beast's scream, the wilder Indian's feud, 
Are all save nature that salute the ear. 
Proud nature hath her song, and this aloud 
She always soundeth forth both far and near. 
This song, from morn to eve and eve, to morn again, 
Falls on the ear of Grod, but not of savage men. 



" Long have I watched these lands with anxious eye, 

To see the dawn of more auspicious day ; 

But watched, in vain; for barb'rous still they lie. 

By savages oppressed and beasts of prey. 

No anthemed praise from Christian hearts on high 

'Tis ours to bear ; no Pentecostal day. 
Sent'nels of Heaven, here have we stood long ages past, 
And viewed with eye uncheered this wild and boundless waste. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 11 

"No doubt, our Author has his ends in view; 

No doubt, some noble destiny awaits 

This continent. It cannot sure be true, 

That such a land, as if accursed by fates, 

Is destin'd strangely for the savage few 

That roam its Eden o'er. More wise. God hates 
Not thus his work ; but hidden from angelic ken, 
His plans design e'en here some wondrous good for men. 



" Perhaps our Sovereign waits from us to hear, 
Guardians below of earth and human kind, 
The joint petition, the united prayer — 
Perhaps, a special mission now may find 
Acceptance, and may move his ear : 
Above, below, none doubt but He is kind. 
To his High Court, let us some delegate appoint 
His will to learn, his power request to our intent. 



" But, burdened, I have hurried on too fast. 
'Twas not to make such move that I arose. 
Another end was first, tho' now 'tis last : 
My full heart touched too soon, its fountain flows. 
If then, ye wisely judge the time not past, 
One to preside let us appoint, who knows, 
By long experience, order to keep. Habdiel 
I name, for he, I ween, will manage all things well." 



12 AI\[EU1CA DISCOVERED. 

He sat ; as on tlic Eastern Prince now turp.ed 

All eyes. With modest grace the Chieftain rose. 

Not age. pure wisdom on his features burned. 

High his brow, his eye fiery ; while flows 

O'er shoulders broad his princely hair. Long learned 

In councils, wars, and stratagems of foes, 

A godlike greatness sat upon his noble brow^ 

As at the call of Abdah he arises now. 



" High Princes of this noble earth, and all 
Who here have met on this auspicious night : 
E'er ready to obey your uttered call 
At other times, now shrinks whatc'er of might 
I own 'neath cares that all my heart appal, 
And which no warrior brave perceives are light- 
No common post it is o'er you to fill such seat, 
Nor is the bus'ness small, but vast and intricate. 



'• Ye seek to haste the wheels of Providence, 
To look the fast-sealed leaves of fate between ; 
Of God's decrees to learn the hidden sense. 
And change of earthly things what long has been. 
All bold the step — yet suits th' intelligence 
That here convened adorns this niglitly scene. 
God's deep-laid schemes of government, tho' dark, invite 
Our scrutiny; and to examine them is right. 



AMEEfUA DiSCOVP]RED. 13 

" Humility howe'er becomes the heart 

That would assay a daring task like this. 

In fates, decrees and destinies, no part 

Hath God assigned our creature nothingness. 

T' obey is ours, to rule all his. Apart 

From Him we are, as all, but emptiness. 
Awed then the tongue that speaks of his most wise decrees, 
Who self-sufficient rules as best he only sees. 



" But if more wise, y' intend beseech his throne, 
And such I augur from great Abdah's word. 
No ill can rise ; for He who hears the groan 
Of crying lamb, and feeds the humming-bird, 
His angel bands will not refuse alone, 
Despised their earnest plea, their prayer unheard. 

Willing I am to join in Abdah's wise request; 

But to preside o'er you — I leave it to the rest." 



Like war trumps clear the plaudits wildly rose 
From ranks o'er joying ranks of Angels bright. 
With one consent they all wise Habd'el chose, 
Filling with loud acclaim the vault of night. 
From peak to peak the rising thunder grows, 
Wide o'er the ocean tossed with new delight. 
Thus from the field of blood, when patriots claim the day, 
Bise the loud cheers of friends as foes are chased away. 



14: AMEKICA DLSCOVEEED. 

Next, to the seat high-raised brave Abclah led 
His princely friend. No cushion'd silk, or gold, 
Or royal state was there ; but in their stead 
A granite rock that of its Author told. 
Deep sunk it rested in its quiet bed, 
By angels honored more than thrones of old. 
How oft alas ! do human hands in pride efface 
The beams divine that live on nature's unwrought face ! 



We chisel, gild and strive to decorate 
Some column, wall, or house of lowly clay ; 
We call it palace, capitol of State, 
And make it th' wonder of our short-lived day. — 
But on our track unseen remorseless Fate 
Outwits our hands and wears our pile away ! 
What castles, tow'rs and princely halls are now in dust ! — 
And where the old lie buried, there soon the new ones must. 



His seat high-raised, with dignity possessed. 
Around him Habdiel casts a friendly eye : 
Then rising slow, the hosts all calm addressed, 
Lifting his silver voice, his hand on high. 
'• Warriors of Heaven, unworthy, still I'm blest 
This seat to hold through your kind charity. 
My errors you'll indulge, my judgment firm maintain, 
My weakness prop, while I this honored post retain. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 15 

" Among yourselves be court'ous and polite ; 

Rough words but illy suit assemblies wise ; 

Let passion rest, and only what is right 

And true defend, with open, candid eyes. 

Look forth on nature through this quiet night — 

Behold yon orbs that gem the midnight skies — 
In harmony they all their diff' rent ways pursue 
Devoid of hate ; let these exam^dos be to you." 



He sat. The Southern Chief, brave Hazel rose. 
Long was his drooping hair, that on the night 
"Wide cast, far downward flowed from noble brows. 
Beneath high arches orbed refulgent light 
Streamed from his restless eye, that innate glows 
Pure flame. As silver from the furnace bright 
His folded lip : his words like mountain winds all free 
That shake the bending firs, and raise the billowed sea. 



" High Chiefs of vet'ran bands, who here this night 
Have come, full-hearted from each distant land, 
To place in common orb high-raised the light 
That each sustains in strong but sep'rate hand ; 
Rebounds my heart with deep, unmixed delight 
To see you here — where rocks on rocks high stand. 
Brothers we kindly meet united all in one, 
As beams unnumbered make one bright and central sun. 



Id AMKKlrV i>isro\ Klx'K.n. 

•• WcW liavo 1 known your skill, who loni;- liavo hoKl 
In sto;uly luunl. the roign of law supremo 
O'or robol hoarts on HoU's dark battle-field. 
• l\Uent the loe — yot oft like niorninir dream 
Has ho wild tied, liis spear and eloudy shield 
iioft in your prineely hands, that in the beam 
Of heaven hiii'li hunir. have tropliy oi' your fame far spread, 
Where o'er surroundin*;' fiends tall Satan lifts his head. 



"Parker than times tliat now the world o'erspread 
Have we beheld. AVhen (>eean's noble son 
Half-sunken rose above the mountain's head, 
t)f all earth's millions he the righteous one — 
And when from burning cities rapid tied 
The Sodomite, eseaped beeause alone 

Of many righteous — these were times of woful gloom. 

That seemed to threaten earth with one unbursting tomb. 



"Park too it was, when by the 3^-nean hand 
Ood's infant Hoek lay trembling in its blood; 
When from Euphrates to the Celtic land, 
From high Caucasus to llispania's Hood, 
Kemorseless wolves, with quenchless thirst, demand 
The lives and hearts of all the humble good. 
Yet soon these bloody mists were scattered far away. 
As son of Helena restored a happier day. 



AWVAIK'A DISroVKI.'KI). 17 

" Dark too as sliadcs of 'J'ojiliot'.s dlKnial cave, 
Dark as tlie .sooty siiioko of }>unilii;.^ >^tyx, 
Dark as tlic midnight of Death's inner grave ; 
Dark as despair, where friendly never mix 
Sweet light with gloom — dark thus the wave. 
That o'er this sunken world for eonturies six, 

Has poured in wrath its tide of ignorance and woe ; 

Yet e'en tliis njidnight gloom some streaks of promise show. 



''• Yea more. Sweet morning dawns. Tlie smiling East 
Is lifting up her portals, and the beams 
Of burning gold o'er many a land arc cast. 
Soon trutli and riglitcousness in living streams 
Will pour their fulness o'er eacli sterile coast. 
Waking to life all hearts from restless dreams. 
The morning star has risen, and the full-orbed sun, 
]5ehind him short, will soon his glorious journey run. 



" This land so lost, tliat like oasis green, 
Wide gems the desert sea with hidden joy. 
Must from its tomb of years, the happy scene 
Of Liberty and Truth revive. Employ 
No more must angry friends their spleen 
On its fair soil, predestined to destroy, 
'Neath Time's late evening stars, their dark, despotic sway, 
Dlest herald of a morn, that jilways sliall be day." 



IS AMKRICA DISCOVKK'KD. 

Next A'A'Aiin rose, (>t'liiii;li majestic^ mioii. 
.Blue was his roUinn; cyo. liis kindling face 
Like morning young, that o'er the dewy scene 
Calm daylight sheds. "With soft and easy grace 
His words rolled on, as o'er a glassy plain 
Some joyous stream, that bosomed on its face 
J>right sunbeams bears. Attention fixed the Seraphs gave, 
As loud his silver tones rebound from hill to wave. 



'"■ I>rave Princes of the earth, and warriors bright, 
AVho crowd like pressing rocks this mountain high ; 
floys more my heart now liere. than at the liglit 
Of Spring, long closed in wint'ry sleep the eye 
Of nature glad. Who fears the direful fight 
Of Hell, surrounded thus in harmony 
AVith hearts, whose bold designs encompass wise the means, 
rredestined to defeat the wrath of warring fiends ? 



'• AVild as the storm full-winged, that bears tlie wave 
High tossed on heaven's broad arch, has been the strife 
Long years we wage with Satan, and the cave 
Of his infernal hosts. Not seldom grief 
lias clothed the burning eye of warriors brave, 
Who, in the cause of trutli. their ease and life 

Have staked against the common foe. Yet plain we see. 

Our sad reverses gain us lasting victory. 



AMI<;iM(JA l)IS(J()VKI{Klh \i) 

"Dark is tlio day that now our raging- fooH 
Proud claim in every land. God's gracious hand 
Withdrawn, Hell rages on the field, and throws 
O'er mountain, plain, its smoke for ever fanned 
By wrath, whose restless fire God's anger blows. 
Ah, mournful is the thought, that o'er the land 
Where martyrs bled, and chief Apostles taught and died, 
The Great Ai)Ostate rules, his kingdom firm and wide ! 



"And o'er Jjosphorus, where the Christian king 
Planted of old Ciirist's standard high and young, 
Proudly the Crescent, with its half-formed ring. 
Has fixed its wide dominion fast and long. 
From Baltic, too, to Asia's northern wing, 
Where the proud lluss uplifts his sabre strong, 
Feebly gray Twilight sits upon the hearts of men. 
Yielding her sickly beam to Night's unbroken reign. 



"Ah me ! how often have I pensive stood 
On rocky peak of some high mountain's dome. 
And cast my eye as far as angel could. 
To see, 'mid triumphs of all grasping Ptome, 
Where lived dispersed the humble and the good. 
But few survive — and these, where wild beasts roam 
And serpents hiss half-seen, live in the desert wild, 
Hard rocks beneath their bed, high heaven tlieir niglitly 
shield ! 



20 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Of Hazel's land it is not mine to speak, 
Nor yet of thine, most gracious Habdiel; 
But if the distant views I sometimes take 
Of these proud lands the real truth doth tell, 
Our mortal earth is quite enough to make 
Heaven sorrowful, and Hell with joy to fill. 
Where Blest Messiah lived, and Amram's son was born. 
Where the Cicilian preached — how sunken, how forlorn ! 



" With pleasure then I heard 'mid glittering sin 
Of this your meeting with brave Abdah here ; 
New light fell bounding o'er the gloomy scene 
That long my heart had pained, and eye, and ear. 
If a new world for faith we find and men. 
New hopes may grow and flourish richly there. 
Borne from its barren hill, how oft the drooping vine 
Lifts from the vale its boughs with fruits almost divine ! 



" But how proceed aright % This will demand 

The wisdom well determined of you all. 

This mighty continent to other land 

Is yet unknown, but to the red men tall. 

To save it, we must lay the vigorous hand 

Of faith upon it, and remove its pall. 
From Japheth then tho' dark must come the flick'ring light. 
That shall this land redeem from its unbroken night. 



AMEUiOA iJLSOOVKIiKJ). 21 

" There only faith retains her partial reign, 

There only men are dauntless of the sea. 

Thence must we hope this mighty land to gain, 

Thence bring and plant of Freedom, Faith, the tree. 
■ Wide rolls the wave from main to distant main, 

And long hard-wrought, the sea-borne voyage must be : 
Yet must we wisely plan the broad-waved deep to pass. 
And plant Redemption, Truth, in this great wilderness. 



Auspicious too the time. A spirit bold 
To climb the sea and find out other lands 
The minds of many now doth strongly hold. 
Tired of their own, brave hearts now seek the sands 
Of other climes, and plough the deep for gold. 
She, too, that at the head of Adria stands. 
Proud Venice, hath to ways upon the ocean-tide 
Found out, through nautic skill, a safe and happy guide. 



" E'en now a noble prince the southern cape 
Of Mizraim seeks to double, and to gain 
(A daring deed) ! admittance to the lap 
Of oriental Ind. Nor will such minds remain 
Content, till sunny Fortune fill their hope, 
But ply on sea. on land, their fixed design. 
Such restless hearts and bold let us unseen control. 
And plant our purpose deep in some adventurous soul. 



22 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" One I advise. Dominic's daring son, 
A ruddy youth in genius unsurpassed : 
Already from the learned he has won 
Something of fame. His lot at Pavia cast, 
He now 'mid old gray walls and oft alone 
Studies the heavens, but more the sea-tost mast. 
Great Ocean hath her empire in his soul firm fixed. 
And 'mid her breaking waves he longs to ride betwixt. 



" Him let us train by patience, various toil, 
To venture boldly on the wide, blue sea ; 
Him let us bring to this all virgin soil. 
And agent make of our designs to be. 
A Comber's son, he'll manly not recoil 
From the great task ; but ply it night and day. 
Youth is the time to plant with care the fruitful seed 
Of greatness, and ambition's rising flame to feed. 



Yet must we learn, in enterprise so new, 
The will of Him who sits upon the Throne. 
Base would it be in us, and vainly too. 
To tempt unbid such arduous work alone. 
All cheerful then I yield to Abdah's view, 
High o'er the void abrupt some daring one 
To send : Nor know I, 'mid the warriors here this night, 
A bolder heart than his to take that upward flight." 



AMERICA DISCOVEEED. 23 

He sat. 'Twas sanctioned by the hosts as now 
A loud acclaim from seat to seat arose. 
Great Abdah next ; who, with majestic bow, 
Thanking his friends for whom they kindly chose, 
Continued thus his words — " Full well I know 
The care of him who on this mission goes. 

Precipitous the flight, and distant far the place; 

Through worlded systems lost must such bold envoy pass. 



"Nor fittest I such mission to perform ; 
Heads wiser here, far bolder hearts than mine. 
Habdiel especially, who oft 'mid storm 
Of strife his golden spear hath raised sublime. 
Moved by our need, let him his talents form 
Unto this task; choosing, as suits, his time. 
By long-tried skill, great wisdom, prudent management, 
More would he gain than I for this great continent." 



Rose Habdiel next. But ere the silvery sound 
Fell from his opening lips on anxious ears, 
Hazel began. From rock to rock rebound 
His words on dewy winds and reach the stars. 
" Happy am I upon this sacred ground 
To see these bands of love. My gloomy fears 
Are fled, while your united hearts, the prophecy 
Of good, declare in vain we have not jnissed the sea. 



^•i a:\ikkica discovered. 

-As my Avnnn thoughts liavo traced the hiin-iod track 

Of noble Azzaii in his burniuir words. 

Like bird escaped, my mind has wandered back, 

And wept o'er Afric and its savage lords. 

In sin and burning woo. there is no lack 

In that dark land, where ever-warring hordes 

Infest the earth and stain a guiltless soil with blood. 

Alas ! in once fair Mizraim's land how few the ijood ! 



Perhaps, howe'er, advantage may arise 
To each, by joining all in Abdah's ease. 
The cloud, whose watery garment tills the skies, 
Falls not on one. but many a thirsty place. 
So may the love, that oer this cont'nent lies. 
Far outward spread and bless a distant race. 
One is the ^vorld. and wheresoe'er kind Mercy lights, 
She spreads her wings o'er all and every heart doliirhts. 



•'In this great central good let us unite, 
And from a wat'ry chaos bring the prop, 
That yet in evil day the temple bright 
Of Truth may bear, and give the nations hope 
AVondering how oft 'mid landscape of delight. 
On one sweet llower doth sportive fancv stop ! 
Oerlooking now all else, let every warrior's eye 
Ite^^t on this land, and seek to chan<i;e its destinv. 



AMERICA DISOOVEEED. 25 

'' Nor need ^YC argue long the delegate : 
Abdah should go, for be tbe country rules ; 
And Habdiel, because in wisdom great. 
Tbe two are best ; for if one's courage cools 
Tbe otber maj- inflame, and tlius tbe weigbt 
Of care divide, as prudent workman tools. 
Botb let us send, and to tbeir trustful zeal confide 
This migbty land, from mountain to tbe ocean-tide. 



" Meantime, let each bis viceroy wisely name, 

Order to keep at home while he's abroad. 

Confusion hero, reproach would be, and shame, 

To us injurious, high offence to Grod. 

But if each Chief a prudent Head should name, 

All would be peace and loving brotherhood. 
Wisest tbe ship is ruled when but one pilot guides, 
And ev'n Angels bapp'est where one fixed Head presides." 



He sat. Habdiel, with dignity, resumed, 
And brief bis smothered thoughts. " Sure, Princes wise, 
Some Power, not earthly known, has here assumed 
Dominion o'er us — surely from the skies, 
The grace of Heaven vouchsafedj bath here perfumed 
With love our hearts in fragrant sacrifice. 
Such union, energy, fraternal love ! — Oh when 
Have we experienced more among tbe abodes of men ! 



26 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Happy am I, as from this seat I gaze 
On your benignant faces, to behold, 
'Mid living image of the spirit's blaze, 
Radiance of joy more rich than purest gold. 
Such steadfast zeal a sure foundation lays 
For hope, and bids us hence be prudent, bold. 
Not in our hands, 'tis true, the destiny of things 
Is found — yet who despond, when each his influence brings? 



" If then ye will that such embassy go. 
And me with Abdah freely now appoint. 
Your final sentence fixed be pleased to show 
By present vote. The happy agreement 
Of your wills t' him and me shall pass for law ; 
Willing to go are we, when willing sent. 

Much might I plead and truly my unworthiness ; 

But this objecting now I will not farther press." 



Scarce from his closing lips had passed the words, 
When trumpet-tongued the bursting plaudits rose, 
As rattling armor, shields and burnished swords, 
Proclaimed to heaven the names all freely chose. 
From mount to mount resound the stricken chords, 
Whose echo wild along the ocean goes. 
Joy fills each heart, and peaceful Hope, her dewy wings 
From rose-lips drawn, around th' assembly gently brings. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 27 

'Twas morn. The windows of the cast were raised. 

As from liis burning crown the early Sun 

Sent forth his light. The snow-clad summits blazed 

Of Andes high, as golden beams now shone 

Their frozen peaks between. Diana hazed 

Sat widowed on her distant ocean throne. 

Her virgin smile obscured in ris'n Apollo's beam ; 

Vanished each star from heaven as some forgotten dream. 



The fragrant sandal, bathed in morning's light, 
A robe of brilliant gems did restless wear. 
While on the willow's leaf, revolving, bright, 
The dewy pearl-drops waved and sported near. 
From cedar's bough, the Thenca with delight. 
And Thili, rais'd their notes seraphic, clear : 
Morn with her balmy breath o'er vale and mountain spread. 
And from each folded eye kissed off the leaden shade. 



The lion wearied ceased his bloody chase, 
The tiger cast him in his mountain den, 
The wolf and jaguar sought some secret place. 
And all the beasts of prey were silent then. 
From earthen couch the Indian raised his face, 
Stretched his long limbs and seized his bow again ; 
While idly at his side his half-dressed offspring wake, 
And to her task his brawny spouse her hands betake. 



28 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Swift on the wings of light's returning beams, 
Fly the high Seraphs to their distant homes : 
Brighter than noon each Chieftain's helmet gleams, 
As o'er 'mid ether fast he onward roams. 
Not Abdah. Lost in thought and mighty themes. 
Hard climb his upward feet the icy domes ; 
Busied his fancy, where mid grovy worlds expire 
Light's twilight beam, absorbed in some new planet's fire. 



BOOK II. 

THE ENVOYS. 

Arrayed in silver robes the Queen of night 
High smiling sat on her meridian throne, 
As from her virgin face, all soft and bright, 
O'er land and restless sea, her mild ray shone. 
Far o'er her head, as if engaged in fight 
With Taurus, or, victor, he had won 
The trophy, great Orion lifts his club, his sword, 
And stretches forth his hands, as if of stars the lord. 



On Dian fair brave Abdah met his friend. 
Each had his kingdom placed in worthy hands ; 
And each was now prepared his course to bend 
Through starry ways to Heaven. Hence to their lands 
That far below them lay, they anxious send 
A farewell look, as seamen to the sands, 
Where live, 'neath arching boughs by distant mountains hid, 
Home's joyous scenes and hearts, from them as visions fled. 



30 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

In the left foot of Neptune's warring son 
A brilliant orb is seen ; Regel its name. 
Thither they aim, as wearied sailors run 
For light-house, when they see its joyous flame. 
Far in the other arch of heaven, the sun 
Now seems but taper through the darkness dim ; 
While like the early dawn new lights around them rise, 
And worlds unseen before make glad their wand'ring eyes. 



Silence not long could hold great Abdah's heart. 

" Grood Habdiel, what mighty worlds we see ! 

The distant lands we rule, how small a part 

They now appear of Grod's infinity ! 

Ah me ! My heart's appalled, and thoughts all start. 

As I survey this vast and worlded sea. 
Above, below, around, on ev'ry side arise 
Such orbs of light, to gem these ever-varying skies ! 



" Why hath Omnipotence created these ? 
Why poured his fulness thus o'er boundless space ? 
Why did it not his goodness better please 
Fewer to make, and fill with righteousness ? 
Like leaves that on the Andes kiss the breeze 
Of spring, so are these worlds all numberless ! 

Why made such rich expenditure of wisdom, power? 

Why such infinities doth God o'er nature shower ? 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 31 

" By whom possessed ? Are men or angels there ? 

Or are they left to desolations wild ? 

Grows there the rose, the maiden lily fair. 

The mountain cedar, elm, or orange mild ? 

There doth the oak its outstretched branches share 

With tender vines, as father with his child 1 
Their vales do wild beasts roam — their waters scaly fish — 
Their ether birds ? All these to know, how much I wish ! 



" Nor these alone. Doth sin or holiness 
Its empire there maintain ? Grows there the tree 
Of death, whose poisoned roots deep sunk embrace 
The heart, and boughs, in fell malignity, 
Casting their pitchy shade o'er all the race. 
Sad fruits afford of past apostasy ? 
On these bright globes hath some betrayed, primeval fall. 
Brought down the wasting curse and stained the blood of all ? 



" One can there be upon whose gemmy breast 
A drop is found of sacrificial blood ? 
Oh, has the High, the Great, the Ever-Blest, 
E'er shown to them, as man, the vital flood 
Of his redeeming grace ? There too oppressed 
For others has He died, the Only Good ? 
Or, in reverse of earth and man, doth vengeance reign, 
And Sin as tyrant prey upon its many slain ?" 



82 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

Habdiel replies. " Brother — Oli that word 

Sounds sweet on path so lonely, so remote ! 

Not music rich of India's sweetest bird ; 

Not honey'st song from e'en an angel's throat ; 

Not anthemed spheres that have so deeply stirred 

Our hearts of late, I value as that note. 
Yes, Abdah, thou art my brother : for none I see, 
Mid all these rolling spheres, so near my heart as thee." 



So spake good Habdiel, as from his eye 
Fell soft upon his breast the pearling tear. 
Deep moved, great Abdah gave responsive sigh, 
And to his friend on silv'ry wing drew near. 
Perfumed their love, they range more dear the sky. 
In joy both one, in hope, and transient fear. 
So mid the storms of grief that press their wearied head, 
More kindly grow the loves of those who truly wed. 



His tears suppressed, Habdiel his words recall, 
" Tis not in me, great Abdah, now to fill 
The queries you propose. Such things appall 
My heart and bid my inmost soul be still. 
What know we in our feebleness, of all 
These mighty works of God, that countless fill 

All space ? O'er earthly men we boast pre-eminence ; 

But what is ours to God's unscanned intelligence ? 



AMERICA DISCO VEREL>. 33 

'• Yet on these worlds 'tis ours to speculate : 
God best we know when best we know bis works. 
What though their number none can calculate ; 
Or, soaring high amid their starry walks. 
Survey each orb and learn its sjoecial fate — 
Yet of them men and prattling childhood talks. 

Much more 'tis ours to scan their state and history ; 

Their climate, soil, and e'en their darkest mystery. 



Not by inf 'rence, howe'er, can we obtain 
Specific knowledge of their various state. 
'Tis not from fishes in the boundless main 
Of seas, we learn high-plumed the eagle's fate ; 
Nor truth deducing from great el'phants gain 
Knowledge of kids that in the pastures bleat j 
Nor yet like fish is man, or bird, or prowling beast. 
Whose heart pure reason fills, God's last and richest gift. 



" So in the bosom fathomless of space, 
'Tis not one world, nor all alike that dwell. 
Diff'rence ev'n here obaerving far we trace. 
Some vastly great, some scarcely seen, so small. 
Here shoots the comet with its burning blaze, 
There grandly shines some sun the heart of all; 
Here in its smaller orbit turns some lunar light, 
Yonder, great cycled worlds that never seem to set. 
2* 



34 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

'• Greater the diff'rence as we nearly pass 
To tlieir domestic state. In climate, soil, 
Productions, mode of life, and busy race 
That till their virgin lands with various toil, 
No doubt they differ in each diff'rent place : 
In learning one we do not learn the whole. 
'Tis not in Afric Europe's snow-clad son is known. 
Nor doth Euphrates bear the warring Indian frown. 



" Likeness remote, however, among them all. 
Each worlded state its throne of central power 
Enjoys, from whose effulgent robes wide fall 
On every solar land the golden shower. 
Attraction, too, with its gigantic thrall. 
Far throws its arms abroad round higher, low'r ; 
Of various parts combines one great harmonious whole, 
And gives a boundless universe one common soul. 



" Intelligence, no doubt, exists in most. 
Some newly formed perchance are destitute : 
Others by sin, perhaps, the hoqfL have lost ; 
But these are few. The many are not mute. 
But mind exhibit on their star-lit coast : 
Not made such worlds for inert matter, brute. 
Philosophers are there, no doubt, and statesmen wise, 
Who nations rule, and learning teach in nobler skies. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 35 

" But let us not conclusions draw too fast : 

Experiment will teach the perfect truth. 

Ere then we leave of burning stars the last, 

One let us search along our devious path. 

Short the delay, though onward much we haste 

On business weighty for our distant earth." 
Consent delighted Abdah gave, as each his eye 
Far onward raised in hope, along the gemmy sky. 



Still upward fast they go as two young beams 
Of morn, that haste to seek the distant west. 
Ahead now Habdiel, now Abdah seems ; 
Now side by side their glittering wings are prest. 
In playful mood now high the gilded beams 
Of some new sun one seeks, but soon in haste 
Returns. Thus strolled they on thro' starry heights sublime, 
Their arduous way beguiling and beguiling time. 



Now on them sudden falls the passing wing 
Of some great planet's night, while nought is seen 
Save stars that in their bending orbits sing. 
Anon they're wrapt in burning clouds that thin 
Around some massive sun their bright robes fling : 
And now they pass entranced some moonlight scene. 
In comet's mazy tail now thick-enrobed they go, 
And now far distant hear the strains of plaintive woe. 



S6 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Thus on, still on, witli tireless, ceaseless wing, 
They press their journey upward, So seamen, 
That spread their canvas in the laughing spring 
Of Thames, bound through th' deep for India's main, 
Long plough the wave and often idly sing. 
As storms arise and storms retire again : — 
Still on they hold their way, by winds nor waves deterred. 
Still steering firm their bark where first their bark was steer'd. 



So moved the angel-heralds through great space. 
A world appears at length whose destiny 
They will to scan. Each hastens to the place, 
And both now stand on one bleak summit high. 
Not long their joy. With melancholy face 
Amazed they gaze on all both far and nigh. 
Smoky the air, the sulphurous clouds in anger drest, 
While vale and mountain groaned as if by pain oppressed. 



'Mid meagre grass more meagre herdlings stroll, 

And birds looked sickly on the barren boughs. 

In stony glens gaunt wild beasts scream and howl, 

And dull and dead each lazy river flows. 

The soil was gravel, sand, and ashes foul, 

While on its sapless bosom lowly grows 
Each stunted tree. But here and there a drooping flower. 
And seldom on the withered grass a scanty shower. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 87 

Its tenant shared a harder fate. No look 

Of dignity his form possessed. He seemed, 

Like tree, by every goodly thing forsook. 

And on whose winter light had never beamed. 

A haggard face — a frame that feebly shook, 

Red, glaring eyes that from deep sockets gleamed. — 

Thin, bloodless lips that scarce their livid teeth secured ; 

A murky skin, that wrathful fates had long indured. 



In reason weak, in passion strong and wild, 
He moved a curse 'mid bitter curses 'round. 
Not offspring of the Throne he seemed, but child 
Of Furies strong with starving Hunger joined. 
That on some stormy day, in open field, 
'Mid barren rocks, Malignity had found. 
Looked Habdiel amazed, and thus brave Abdah spake. 
Whose soul deep stirred within its musings thus did break. 



" Ah me ! what paradise is earth compared 
AVith this cursed orb ! What angels the red men 
Whom savage we have called, and who have shared 
So long Andalia's land in meadow, glen ! 
Sure Grod, nor Angels, Fates have ever cared 
For this lost world — so waste it doth remain ! 
Fixed on the frozen pole of Love's revolving wheel, 
The bounding joy of spring it never seems to feel. 



38 AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 

" Sad the mistake we've made, good Habdiel : 
How little thought we things would turn out so ! 
This world but seems the vestibule of hell, 
Such raging sin, such wide-spread terror, woe. 
Yet much I wish some messenger to tell, 
Why God in wrath such vengeance here doth show. 
Better 'twould be to blot from Nature's numerous list 
This orb — sure, in its present state 'twould not be missed. 



Scarce had the words his folding lips passed by, 
When on the mount an angel-band appeared. 
With helmet, bow and shield, each armored high. 
Brave Abdah first, next Habd'el wildly stared, 
As on in rapid step they drew them nigh. 
Long used to war, still inwardly they feared 
At sight so strange. Short the alarm ; as upward, bright, 
O'er helmet, spear. Heaven's pennant waves in golden light. 



Advancing near, the chieftain thus. " We come. 
Kind strangers, not as foes but loving friends. 
To us the Maker has assigned as home 
This world, all else possessed by wrathful fiends. 
'Mid its wide ruins as ye see we roam. 
Guarding with shield and spear its barren plains. 
Not grateful is the task ; but he who wisely fills 
His post e'en here, may stand approved on better hills. 



AMEmCA DISCOVERED. 39 

"But whence are ye? Direct from Heaven? Or star, 
That fills our midnight vault with distant joy? 
Fatigued ye seem — perchance have come from far ? 
Other regions may your seraph-hands employ? 
And why have ye come? Why linger here 
Where sin and wretchedness all good destroy ? 

Bright worlds around there are more blissful to the eye ; 

These passed, why have ye sought this land of misery?" 



Habdiel. '- Noble Chief of noble band ; 
Grlad are our hearts to see you on this mount. 
Not from Heaven we've come. A distant land 
Is ours ; and to tell the vast, vast amount 
Of leagues we've passed, would occupy the sand 
That half this planet fills : we did not count. 

Earth is the name our province bears — perchance you'll find 

It on the map of space : Orion 'tis behind. 



" Heaven we seek, and on a mission high. 
Yet, as we traced these starry roads so bright, 
Resolved we to approach some planet nigh, 
And 'mid its green to linger with delight. 
This brought us here : but never has our eye 
Beheld before such ugly, dreadful sight. 
Grood Brother, why — by all in Heaven we ask the cause- 
Why such subversion here of our Creator's laws ?" 



40 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

To whom the Chief. " Ah, long would be the tale. 
If all I should attempt relate. But brief 
I'll give the sum. Not with its gloomy trail 
Of ills was this world made. Affliction, grief. 
No entrance had at first nor dirgeful wail : 
Amid the sons of morn it was a chief. 

Bright green the mountains clothed ; the valleys all were 
spring ; 

Happy the strolling beasts ; and joyous birds did sing. 

" The air was balm, and on the verdant grass 
Fell soft and rich the plenteous rain of heaven. 
Its tenant blessed filled well his honored place 
Devoid of crime, and by no judgment riven. 
In evil hour, sin came — that word, alas ! 
To all, what untold depths of woe it 's given ! 
Sin came — Ah, gloomy as the pit its natal day, 
Whose swaddling bands were clouds that never pass away ! 



" From that dark date till now, Heaven's distant cloud 
Hath not here sent of love one pleasing ray. 
Black is the Throne, and far its thunders loud 
Peal on the ear of guilt with sad dismay. 
Meantime the laud, the sea, the air, a crowd 
Of direful ills send forth both night and day. 
Undone and lost, this once almost angelic race 
Of former greatness now, exhibit not one trace." 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 41 

Abdah responds. " The cause of sin relate, 
Good Brother. Was it from hard temptation 
Well laid, and pressed by subtle foe too great 
For this weak race ; or, inward inclination ? 
From other place did come the woful fate ; 
Or did some erring hand here bring it on ? 

Weak is reason joined to sense ; weaker when assailed ; 

More pitied then is he, who has when tempted failed." 



The Chief " None brought the curse from other sphere ; 

Indigenous it rose from this lost ground. 

That all his love and sovereignty might share, 

God placed this happy race 'neatli easy bound 

Of law. All he required in love to bear 

The yielding labors of the field, profound 
Their homage for his name. Base gain new-born enticed, 
As they with willing hand rebellion's flag did hoist. 



" 'Twas done, when round yon burning orb this world 
Had twice twelve thousand years in peace fulfilled. 
Lived still the father of the race, and curled 
Around his neck the pristine lock unkilled 
By time, that beauteous there had first been furled. 
He with his num'rous sons the land yet tilled ; 
But like a burning flame that from some stable small 
Begins, yet sweeps the town, away sin bore them all. 



42 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" All me ! at tlioiiglit of change so great my heart 
E'en now is made to break. Bright was the day 
Beyond, but since all dark Then fell the dart 
That unremoved has turned our planet gray ; 
Piercing the soil, and through its inmost heart 
Wild vengeance spreading on its unseen way. 
This tomb of love, this sepulchre of joys now gone, 
'Tis ours to guard with many a deep and solemn groan." 



Abdah — " What ! No redemption made for these ! 
Not so it is with us. The race we guard 
Fell too ; fell in the father ; not in days 
Of his posterity. But Mercy shared 
With them the curse, and on her shoulder stays 
The burden of the wrath they justly feared. 
Heaven's Love incarnate took their nature, place, 
And by His blood restored them to his Father's face." 



The Chief, " Redemption ? We have faintly heard 

The distant sound. Once briefly tarried here 

A stranger kind, who told us of that word. 

At news so wonderful we all did stare, 

For such a thought to us had ne'er occurred. 

He said, that on some spot remote and far, 

God had a victim found for sin ; he named the place ; 

But we have since forgot. Strangers, did ye see that grace ?" 



AMERICA DISCOVEEED. 43 

Habdiel thus. " Yes, we have seen and known 

Its wonders ; not in ourselves but in the race 

We guard. Matchless the love that God has shown 

To men. Oft too we've asked, if other place 

Such love had ever shared ; or, if alone 

Of all, earth singly had received such grace ? 

Not answer full to this we here receive — but oh ! 

How blest is earth and man to this abode of woe !" 



No reply now made the Chief, but sternly gazed 

To point that suddenly his care required. 

Anon his armor, white wings upward blazed, 

As he from Abdah, Habdiel retired. 

Follow his warriors swift all high amazed 

At what they saw — each face with glory fired. 
Their upward way perplexed earth's heralds now renew, 
O'erwhelmed with deepest awe as from the mount they flew. 



So, when wild storms the sea-tost mariner 
Have forced to seek in haste some rocky isle — 
Its port he briefly holds, delaying there 
But while the warring elements their toil 
Expend — but who, when once the heavens are clear, 
His canvas spreads again, and to the soil 
Of other land directs his anxious way. So fled 
With short delay from this lost world, earth's envoys glad. 



4:4: AMEllICA DISCOVERED. 

Long their journey. New suns and worlds they passed, 
Still others seeing far ahead. It seemed 
As if their toil had just begun, such waste 
Of boundless spheres before them freshly gleamed. 
Yet, on their upward way they hold in haste. 
Nor once of time or leagueless distance dreamed. 
So he who on his faithful heart his Country bears. 
Loves her abroad ; nor care, nor threat'ning danger fears. 



Silence at length good Habdiel breaks, who thus 
His thoughts express. " Sure, Abdah, in the void 
Immense of space, as lately left by us. 
No other orb is seen. Perchance o'erjoyed 
With charm that from this worlded wilderness 
Regales our buoyant hearts, God wise employed 
That lone dark spot of else his perfect workmanship, 
In us the gaudy plumes of too high hope to clip. 



" More wise, let us some other world survey. 
Whose soil wide blest and happy multitude. 
From our sad hearts may smiling chase away 
The gloom, that contact brief with one so rude 
Has deep produced. Not always weeping stay 
'Mid ashes of the tomb, who mourn the dead ; 
But place their eye ©nee more, where life all active brings 
Sweet solace to the heart, that bleeds 'neath sorrow's stings." 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 45 

Consent brave Abdah gives, as soon agree 
Their minds on wliicli to light. It was not far, 
And in its soft and gem-like brilliancy, 
'Mid lovely all appeared the loveliest star. 
It seemed like summer isle on evening sea 
As they approached, whose feet calm waters clear 
Refresh,^ and o'er whose shoulders far green forests rise, 
Gemmed with the golden beams of more than Orient skies. 



Calm on its bosom rests with gentle slope 
A hill of matted grass. Above, its brow 
Is hid in shade of evergreens, that drop 
Their manly branches round, fjir out that grow. 
Beneath, a purling stream, whose sunny top 
Is lade with smiles. Around, the wild-vines throw 
Their tangled curls involved, decked with the lily, rose. 
As 'mid their fragrant beds fat sheep and oxen browse. 



Here lighted Abdah and his noble friend, 
Kesolved, 'neath shady boughs of arching trees, 
Short hours from toil with rich delight to spend. 
Nought seen by them the eye that did not please : 
Lovely the fruitful soil ; nor did there blend 
With richer mould, loose gravel, rocky ways, 
Or spots of barrenness, that to kind culture send 
Unsought returns, and which no fostering care can mend. 



46 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Youthful the trunk of each majestic tree ; 
Nor had a worm or bird its bark pierced through, 
Nor could the closest eye a leaflet see, 
That death had felt upon its verdant bough. 
Erect, all beautiful, from blemish free, 
It raised in pride its head o'er all below. 
High 'mid its branches perch gay birds of golden wing, 
Whose notes euphonic peal the joys of endless spring. 



Reptiles here seen. But these, like diamonds strung, 
Innoxious, playful, and of various hue. 
From branch to branch like idle children hung. 
Attract with new delight th' enchanted view. 
No fatal poison here the friendly tongue 
Of scorpion, asp, or playful viper knew. 
Stings not the wasp, the bee ; nor doth the lion roar. 
Nor feels the timid lamb the wolf or tiger's power. 



Brothers all seemed, as o'er each valley, hill, 
They sportive pass in happy mood. Hunger 
They knew not keen, nor madly sought to fill 
The appetite with others' blood. Nature 
For all provided kind, beneath whose will 
The soil its plenty yielded without care. 
Abhorrent to each taste was flesh, nor had they seen 
A drop of blood, save coursing free in its own vein. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 47 

On every side the land in gardens lay, 
Parted by lowly hedge. Sweet rivulets 
These irrigate, and 'mid their green-beds play. 
From apple, peach, and pear, the luscious fruits 
Depend, as on the ground, 'mid vines that stray 
The trees among, half hid the melon sits. 
Rice, wheat, and barley, corn of every grain are here. 
Past crop producing crop untilled from year to year. 



Scattered o'er hill and dale bright villas shone 
Through clumps of distant trees. No paint on these ; 
The native wood had glory all its own. 
Nor rose there pile on pile, as traveller sees 
On earth, the burdened proof of many a groan. 
All wore an air of innocence and ease. 
Kind toil on boughs that pliant to the hand did yield. 
Was all required ; no tears here stained the tented shield. 



Cities not here, or noisy trade — those homes 
Of vice, where sin in its malignant guise 
Skulks in the narrow lane, or secret roams 
Beneath the silver moon or starry skies. 
Virtue to slay, and round its altar tombs 
Erect of slaughtered hearts. Great nature lies 
On this blest orb all free, her hidden mould unwrought 
To prison walls, her oar with no disaster fraught. 



48 AMEKICA DISCOVEKED. 

Nor did the massive sliip here claim the sea, 

And bear from land to land the luxuries 

Of other climes. All blessings richly lay 

Around all doors, sating, ere yet they rise, 

Nascent desires with home's variety. 

Blest in the fulness that around him lies. 
Ne'er turns the farmer to some foreign land his eye, 
Products to seek that his own fertile lands deny. 

Bright lakes with verdant banks of living green, 

Whose brows were crowned with trees, and round whose 

edge 
Gray blossoms rise, was all the ocean-scene 
This planet knew. No rocks of towering ledge 
With thundering waves high-tossed here shook the plain ; 
No cat'ract's roar, no bellowing torrent's rage. 
Fair hills with verdant vales and beauteous lakes between. 
Oft veined with silv'ry streams, made up the rural scene. 

Frost, ice, were strangers here, and burning heat ; 
No frozen, no meridian zone. Sweet spring 
O'er all prevailed, and in her fulness sat. 
Queen of the rolling year. No months here bring 
Decay or change. All things continue what 
They were at first — endless, ever-blooming spring. 
Gay flowers here smile the year thro'out, and fruits abound, 
Nor leave rich harvests wide the ever-yielding ground. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 49 

Admiring gazed earth's envoys long and far. 
Brave Abdali thus : " Sure Habdiel, this land 
The curse of sin knows not, or pressing care. 
Like jiaradise of earth, when young did stand 
In innocence and love the early pair 
Of human kind, throughout it seems. A laud 

Fit home for gods, where doubtless happy beings dwell. 

Whose noble form retains its blest original. 



" Burns deep my heart with strong anxiety 
Their persons to behold — the friendly hand 
To take — and words of passing charity 
To speak. The history of this happy land 
I fain would turn, and deep admiring see 
On its pure page, of love the unbroken band 

That kept them from apostasy. Was it their deed ? 

Or, did some hand unseen protect the faithful seed V 



Heard soon his prayer, as round them greeting stand, 
The guardian heralds of this sinless sphere. 
Unarmed were these with sword or shield, whose hand 
A simple wand possessed, whose forehead fair 
Was wreathed with tender boughs, their leaflets fanned 
By gentle winds. From shoulder down each wore 

A summer dress, inwrought the threads with beams of light; 

Naked their feet, that diamond seemed to others' sight. 
3 



50 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

In ashen folds long hair their necks adorn, 
Each cheek a gem, each forehead high a throne. 
Radiant the peaceful eye, that like the morn 
Through dews of tender love on all things shone. 
Not on the pearly lip sat kindling scorn, 
But charity supreme ; whose uttered tone 
More balmy falls on each delighted heart and ear. 
Than from the cheek of night on lip of rose the tear. 



For all their Chieftain spoke: "Whence are ye, friends, 
And why 'mid forest-trees ye linger thus 1 
Good all things here, but best the race that tends 
This happy land. If so ye will, let us 
To them your way direct. Yonder, where wends 
A path o'er flowery hill and vale of grass, 
The way is short to fane, where at the middle noon 
Convene the happy tribes, w^hen morning's toil is done." 



Habdiel thus : " Joyful we receive thy grace. 
Brave Chief On distant sj^here we live, and here 
Have come, brief knowledge of this untrod place 
To gain. To Heaven we go on mission, where 
Petitions bear we to our Sovereign's face. 
Short moments since we turned to near a star. 
Kind greetings to exchange — but found, alas ! such sight, 
As may kind Heaven forbid should elsewhere see the light. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 51 

" Revived beyond all thought we rest us here, 
And look entranced from hill to distant hill. 
State of your guarded trust we hence infer 
Most blest. So speak the vernal joys that fill 
This ceaseless spring — so speaks all absent fear. 
Beyond howe'er deduction strong, we still 

Desire the happy face of those thus blest to see ; 

The friendly hand to take and hold in charity." 



He ceased ; as clearer than an angel's note 
A sound came rolling on from hill to dale. 
Six others soon, that like deep love did float 
Upon the fragrant breeze. It was the Hail 
Of worshippers, that now from crier's throat, 
Loud called the sainted family to kneel 
In noonday's temple ; for here, the sun was chronicler, 
And called at early morn, at noon, at eve, to prayer. 



Ahead the Chief proceeds and smiling bade 
The rest t' follow. Arrived, they nearly stand 
At temple-gate. Not polished stone this made, 
Or brick, or cedar-wood well carved by hand 
Of cunning workmen. Gems, nor diamonds laid 
In gold, nor silver vases bright here stand. 
A woodland frame it was, once reared that always stood : 
Revered retreat for worshippers who all were good. 



52 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Its pillars firm of living oak. whose roots 

Far downward grow ; whose massive boughs wide spread 

Great arch do form by time that never rots. 

Twisted and joined in various shape, o'erhead 

A canopy was drawn of leafy shoots. 

From trunk to friendly trunk on either side. 
Crossed and recrossed by hand of ardent piety, 
Grew flowering vines of every sought variety. 



Around, a cedar grove with myrtle mixed, 
Whose arms inlocked, wide shelter made beyond 
The inner shrine. With hand in hand close fixed. 
Here stroll in converse sweet o'er saintly ground, 
The happy multitudes, that unperplexed 
By care, frequent this holy place. One bond 
These hold in brotherhood, as strewed 'neath arching bower, 
On woodland seat they kindly spend sweet friendship's hour. 



Here stood, to guard the temple's purity. 
The warriors of the Chief. He, Habdiel 
And Abdah led within. Lived piety 
On ev'ry brow, and each did inward feel 
The reverence of the place. None paused to see 
With vagrant eye (as oft on earth who kneel 
In house of God) the new arrived. With worship fired 
Each poured his full heart out to Him whom all adored. 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 53 

No sin was here confessed, for none did know 
Its killing weight. Nor did the groaning heart, 
Self-conscions of its pain and inward woe. 
Cling to some altar stained in every part 
With blood. Straight on did each petition go. 
As prayer of child, who in his simple art, 
Hangs on his father's knee, asking unchecked the boon, 
That well he knows parental love will yield him soon. 



Chief praise their tongues employed. God they adored 
In all his works. Him praised from ivy low 
And virgin rose, to mighty stars that floored 
The firmament. Of streams they sang that flow 
'Twixt verdant banks ; of light that widely poured 
Its beams upon the grass ; of beasts that low 

At morn, at eve ; of fruits, and fields of golden grain ; 

Of easy toil by day, and love's eternal reign. 



In centre sat, by all around revered. 
The Sire and Head of this unfallen race. 
Created first and by fond woman cheered, 
Oft had he joyed, as 'neath his blessing face, 
Some new descendant of his blood unteared, 
Would take beside him young his happy place. 
Child from his child was born, great centuries between, 
That now before him sat in one unbroken line. 



54 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Still raven his full lock and fresh the rose 
That bloomed upon his cheek. Not bent his frame, 
But tall, erect, as verdant palm that throws 
Its head of green high up in heaven. Of flame 
His eye, that practised long, with wisdom glows 
And rich experience. Throughout the same 
He was, as when Omnipotence with plastic hand 
Adorned each noble limb, and bade him upward stand. 



She, too, his spouse, beside him sat, as when 
Upon her fragrant lip first fell the kiss 
Of early love. Still beamed her cheek and shone 
Her eye with youth, as when in nuptial bliss 
To him she seemed of loveliness the throne. 
Warm still her heart, whose ardent happiness 
Diffused o'er all its joy, yet centered most on him 
Whom first she loved, through ages long still loved the same. 



Their worship closed, around earth's envoys come 
The smiling multitudes. For all their Sire 
Thus spake : " From neighborhood, or distant home. 
From other orb, or Heaven's eternal fire — 
Whence e'er ye come, or by what chance or doom. 
Accept, kind friends, our love and pure desire 
For your felicity. Not blest perchance as some, 
Yet none more willing yield to passing stranger home. 



i 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 55 

" Open to you are these our ardent hearts, 
Open the soil rich-fruited all around ; 
As free the light, the dew, and stream that parts 
The golden grain : yours, too, this holy ground. 
Approach the cottage-gate ; survey the arts 
Of peaceful husbandry : partake, when found, 
Of all that appetite desires. To you as us, 
While here, shall be one lot. We all receive you thus." 



Habdiel replies : " High-charmed before were we. 

Great Sire revered, as through your happy sphere, 

On hill and smiling dale our eye did see 

Your blest elysium all. Sure, Heaven is here, 

Where Goodness lives in such variety. 

Deep touched by all we were ; but nothing. Sire, 

Has so our spirit moved as this thy friendly tongue. 

Kind Heaven its owner bless and smile on old and young. 



" From earth remote we're come, that with its moon 
Revolves around a central sun. Not blest 
As yours the orb we guard, whose sunny noon 
Oft looks on hearts by heavy care oppressed. 
Dewed at its early dawn, with love, ah ! soon 
Its bliss it lost, that to its anguished breast, 
As bird alarmed, had ne'er returned ; but for One Hand, 
Far reaching that restored it to its native land. 



56 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

" Man sinned, for sucli the name of those who till 
Our distant sphere. Blest he as thou, and these 
Thy happy sons, who, like young cedars fill, 
Unshorn of leaf and limb, thy paradise — 
Blest thus, and high endowed, with freedom, will, 
In evil hour man sinned, as on the breeze 
Fast went his crime to taint in ev'ry part his sphere, 
And make him, happy lord before, chained prisoner there. 



" Of adamant the chain, and ne'er unbound, 

Had not Incarnate Love its heart of grace 

Cast on God's altar hot, when else was found 

No victim to atone. Thus saved the race. 

High Heaven once more its love in depths profound 

Back sends to earth, the lost in its embrace 

To congregate, and make of rebels sons to God. 

Thus wonderful the grace to man confirmed by blood ! 



" Mixed thus with good and ill, like spreading tree 
Whose branches yield discordant fruit, as now 
Is plucked full life, and now fatality — 
Mixed thus the moral globe, beneath whose bow 
Of love, we yield far hence our ministry. 
Oft has the tear these cheeks bedewed, that low 
Did fall for human woe — as oft, the beaming smile 
Has gemmed that tear with light, contending each the while." 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 57 

To Iiiin the father of the race : " All new 
To us what ye relate. Of sin indeed 
We heard, when Satan with his fallen crew, 
By roused Omnipotence, its wrath all freed, 
Far down was cast, from where all vile he drew 
His sword against the Lord. As on he made 
His downward way, our stellar pole deep-moved did shake, 
And short we feared the reeling universe would break. 



" Not since we've heard his fate, or learned if aught 
Of injury has come to other sphere 
Through him. Radiant with joy, our happier thought 
The universe surveyed in hope, that where 
Bright worlds revolve, and God has life or thought 
Bestowed, full peace and happiness were there. 
Undimmed ourselves and globe by shade of passing ill, 
Perfection, peace, we hoped, all other worlds did fill." 



Habdiel : ^- Where else his fell malignity 
Has wrought, we augur not. Earth he has cursed 
With doom, that tears and groaning misery 
Through ages long contending, cannot burst. 
Pressed on its heart of rock like destiny. 
Remain his foot-prints fixed, whose impress durst 

No human arm efface. Nor sated yet his wrath ; 

The race he still pursues through deep and winding path. 
3* 



< k 



58 AMERICA DISCOVEKED. 

" Him to resist our hosts of warriors bright 
Contend. Oft have we met him on the plain, 
Oft tried his subtle strength, when wrapped in night. 
He sought by craft his ramparts to maintain. 
Nor ceases yet the strife, but in its might 
All earth excites with care, contention, pain. 
Ah ! oft these hands have striv'n his brazen shield to rend. 
To strike his plumage low, himself far down to send." 



The sire: "All this excites our sympathy. 
But ye have not explained what most awakes 
Our hearts to know — Incarnate Deity, 
And sacrifice for sin. Such language makes 
Our thoughts rebound ; yet clear and perfectly 
The truth we do not comprehend. Dim streaks 
Of light we see, but not the perfect day full-born 
Has cast its beams on us, of all its darkness shorn." 



Habdiel thus : " Created God, all-wise. 
Of human kind, one pair : tall man as thou. 
And woman meek as she who in thy eyes, 
Long centuries elapsed, is perfect now. 
These blest he placed in fruitful paradise. 
Of all exacting from their hand One vow — 

' Eat not the tree that Heaven all-wise forbids to taste ; 

The rest is yours, for morning meal or late repast.' 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 59 

" The tempter came, and o'er soft woman cast 
His subtle snare. Him she obeyed, unknown 
The ills that her and all would curse at last. 
Destroyed herself, her heart no more the throne 
Of gentle love, she plucks and brings in haste 
To him, of all the fed'ral head. Alone 
To stand he chose not firm, but from her hand the bait 
Assumed, that earth ingulfed and them in one dark fate. 



" Heaven wept, that he so lately cast without, 
Should thus his vengeance wreak against the Lord. 
'Twas then the Son engaged by blood to rout 
The foe, and reinstate in way unheard 
Before, whom he destroyed. Regarded not 
His high estate, he pledged his taken word, 
Man's nature to assume and guilt, and thus atone 
The crime, that else had reigned eternal and alone." 



Wonder high-wrought each auditor now fills, 
Deep-moved before of this great mystery 
The whole to learn. But now behind the hills 
Of mellow eve the cloudless sun his ray 
Was balming in the dew, that here distils 
All fragrantly. Kind greetings past, with day 
Descending fled earth's envoys high on happy wing, 
Heaven's pure gate to seek, and throned its mighty King. 



BOOK III. 

THE AKEIYAL. 

In centre of the universe of worlds 
Is Palace of their King, Its basis made 
Of adamant and richly decked with pearls, 
Extends immeasurably deep. Each grade 
Of worlded systems round this steadfast whirls, 
In orbit vast, by gravitation stayed. 
Involved the circles these joined provinces fulfil, 
Yet ne'er divergent one from God's controlling will. 



Each moon its world, each world its parent sun 
Accompanying, thus journeys onward- 
And when, through ages long, this orbit run, 
And each the place regains whence first was heard 
The motion of its wheels, that rapid on 
Through space career, as o'er the sea some bird — 
Then rises new from worn-out years an age of gold, 
As Spring all verdant smiles when Winter has grown old. 



02 AMKKUW nTSrOVKUKH. 

More ilonso ton thousand tinios tlian densest ore, 
Is fixed on OuhI's uneluuiixed deeree. the roek 
That forms resplendent all the massive floor 
Of Poitv's abode. To ereature's K^ok 
Immense : Avhose size no eye ean wander o'er. 
Its date unknown is written in the book 

Of God's eternity obseuro. Its sliapo four-square ; 

Its sides abrupt, down which who falls is rent with fear. 



Beneath, the bottomless abyss of llell, 
Upon whose prison stands in adamant 
The Throne of Ood : and they who wretched dwell 
Within its fires, are thither hurled down slant 
Tremendous of the base of ITeaven. There fell 
Apolyon first and his, who in this haunt 
Of darkness rage in chains, and strive in vain to break 
The bonds, that their own hands offending strong did make. 



And there each spirit that is distant brought 
From sinning planet off in boundless space — 
Who hath of wicked deeds repented not, 
Or, hath in pride despised when offered grace — 
There is he cast, and by strong furies caught, 
Is lashed and torn throughout this dismal place. 
No tear of mercy now his ingrate soul bedews. 
Nor, faint in absent skies, one star of hope he views. 



AMEItICA DJSCOVKRJ'JJ;. 63 

The face of this eternal adamant 

Th all of gold, in rich mosaic set 

Of costly pearls. A silver wall the slant 

"Precipitous defends, lest hy some fate 

Or heedless step, the unsuspecting saint 

That ventures nigh, might loose his ill-poised weight, 
And thus, like child, that on the edge of precipice 
Doth stand, descend, ere love could 'gain replace. 



On central part, high-raised of diamond all, 

Is Temple spotless of the Holy One. 

Not brightest liglit, that on the eye doth fall 

From high meridian of some stellar sun. 

Such burning rays afford, as here appall 

The vision from these tow'ring walls. The Throne 

AVithin, upon whose glory looks- no untaught eye. 

So pure its uncreated beams of majesty. 



Innumerous the gates that inward lead 
Through temple-walls to presence of the King. 
High-arched these shine of various pearl well-made. 
The topaz' yellow ray, and azure ring 
Of sapphirus, the emerald green, and shade 
Of sardonyx, that ref> and white doth wing ; 
The amethyst of vi'let hue, the jasper's ray 
Of purple, green, and blue ; combine in mingling day. 



64 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

'Twixt outer and the central wall is space 

Immense. Here in their high felicity 

Abide, who entrance hither find by grace, 

Or tested full by their integrity. 

All these in garments long of righteousness 

Their mansions high enjoy and minstrelsy, 
Twixt wall and wall, where oft 'neath arching shade composed. 
Or at some silver font they meet with hearts unclosed. 



Here flows 'twixt golden banks in crystal tide 
The River pure of Life, whose pearling streams 
Divergent roll in joy on either side. 
Along its banks the Tree, whose greenness teems 
With vital fruit, that from strong branches wide 
Hang low — sweet food for those who in the beams 
Of this high glory dwell. Round ev'ry door the tide, 
And o'er each mansion spread the verdant boughs in pride. 



On centre of the inner shrine, unpierced 
By creature-eye or creature-hand profane — 
Where vent'ring bold no high Archangel durst 
Intrude ; and where e'en worship doth remain 
When purest awed — is throne of Grod, immersed 
In light and majesty, that not the strain 
Of highest Seraph can describe. At distance fall 
The worshippers within, whene'er on Him they call. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 65 

Free access here but one enjoys, the Son. 
He only in the Father dwells, and stands 
Unawcd, where high and pure his templed throne 
Abides in holiness. With priestly hands 
This shrine he enters oft, and there alone 
Presents the prayers that far from distant lands 
Ascend. E'er blest, for whom He here doth intercede, 
Since always hears the King for whom the Son doth plead. 



In front, his Mediate Throne of pearly ray ; 
Its base of gold, its steps of diamond made. 
Beneath, a fountain pure as sunniest day 
Shoots forth, of Life's pure tide the head, 
That sparkling on in bright and gemmy play, 
Supplies the stream without, and makes it glad. 
On front the throne, in bright and pearly tablet set, 
Sweet Mercy hath her name, with Truth and Justice met. 



Above, high-arched a bow of various hues 
Surrounds the throne. On this, high hung at right, 
The wand of love, that sovereign grace employs 
To heal the broken heart. On left, and bright, 
The double blade that Justice stern doth use, 
When grace it would defend and injured right. 
Beneath this bow of love, 'twixt Justice, Mercy throned, 
Exalted sits the Son with glory, honor crowned. 



QQ AMEBIC A DISCO VEEED. 

His face like furnace shines, his eyes like stars, 
His lips bright portals of the Deity. 
Around his waist a glorious robe he wears 
Adorned with gems, his high Divinity. 
Like forked lightnings part behind his hairs, 
And on his bosom drawn fair Charity. 
With Mercy's sandals soft his diamond feet are shod. 
While at them lie composed the thunders of a Grod. 



Now near this Holy Place, on wearied wing 
Pressed upward still earth's envoys in their way. 
So seamen on the briny wave, that fling 
Behind them long dull leagues, all ardently 
Pursue the port that to their toil may bring 
Release. From nodding mast high o'er the sea, 
The radiant eye long-fixed surveys the distance far. 
While throbs deep-moved the heart with longings to be there. 



Nor longed in vain. First seen the rising smoke 
Of Hell, that like dark clouds far distant lay 
In gloomy firmament. So, early woke, 
The Patriarch saw o'er Sodom with dismay 
The sulphur fumes high-raised, that like a cloak 
Encompassed with its shroud the cheek of day. 
This awful gloom by sudden turn far eastward made 
They wise avoid ; and up the steep of heaven proceed. 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 67 

Far o'er the outer wall kind eyes survey 
Their toil, as downward fly swift Seraphim, 
If needed help to yield them on their way, 
Or if of buoyant strength, them blest to claim 
As friends, and welcome to the Courts of day. 
Soon met, with joy on wing to wing they come 
All happily. Nor mutely come, but with loud song 
God's Capitol salute, that rises high and long. 



" Hail Palace of our Grod ! Hail happy walls ! 
Hail gates of blessedness ! Hail tree of life ! 
Hail happy stream whose water rolls 
Beside the throne of God — City without strife ; 
Thou blest abode of pure and sinless souls — 
Thou dwelling-place of God and endless life — 
Thou Beauty of the universe — thou happy Bride 
Of Deity — we joy thy walls to stand beside !" 



O'er the silver bound they light within. 
Around them congregate the Seraphim. 
Most recognize, though long abroad had been 
Their absence. 'Twas when earth's natal hymn 
Was early sung, they left the heavenly scene 
To make that orb remote their trusted home. 
Their warriors bold, that ceaseless on the godly wait. 
Had oft the space repassed ; but not their chieftains great. 



68 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Ardent the greetings passed, for they now seemed 
Like veteran heroes from the field of Mars, 
Who long with foes had battled hard, as gleamed 
The sword, the spear, and high the standard-stars. 
With deep anxiety now outward beamed 
The face of each, as all for wounds and scars 

Their persons close surveyed, to see if hateful foe. 

By dart or sword, had left half-healed some secret blow. 



The first rejoicings o'er, kind Hallan thus : 
" To see you here, brave servants of the Lord, 
Is joy intense, be sure, to each of us. 
Our hearts we open free with one accord 
And welcome late-returned from distant place. 
Who long our common foes with shield and sword 
Have strong opposed. High chiefs of Great Messiah's cause, 
Long have ye stood on earth the champions of our laws. 



" More hard than ours your well-confided trust, 
Who with the Chief of Hell and his strong bands. 
Have day and night unshrinking at your post 
Of danger stood, and by your faithful hands 
And prudent skill, repelled the subtle host 
That truth and Grod oppose in distant lands. 
Well ye deserve the thanks which Heaven approving gives, 
Well have ye earned the wreath that now upon you lives. 



AMEEICA DISCOVEKED. 69 

" Yet not is this the time your deeds to crown 
With honors full. Hard labors of the way, 
That long ascending ye have patient borne. 
Demand repose. Not best attentions stay, 
On hearts by toil and irksome journeys worn. 
These greeting wise deferred to other day, 
Your wearied limbs meantime refresh, where rising near 
The mansion stands that I amid the many share." 



Consent each cheerful gave, and onward went 
To Hallan's, whom of old as friend they knew. 
Beside the silver wall it stood and sent 
High up its turrets bright. Of gold all new 
Its walls and floor, its arching firmament 
Of brilliant gems high-set, that to the view 
A canopy of stars revealed. On couch of gold 
Reclined, to balmy rest their limbs they here unfold. 



Meantime with cup and pearly plate, to tree 
Of life kind Hallan went, and to its stream, 
Where fruit of various kind all fragrantly 
He plucked, and drink prepared of crystal beam. 
These placed on golden board all beauteously. 
Beside he sat to wait their waking dream. 
Short their repose, whose new-balmed limbs in joy revive. 
As to the kind repast their frugal lips they give. 



70 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Upraised, their thanks in glowing gratitude, 
They thus express : " We bless thee, God of all, 
Fountain of life, Bestower of all good, 
Whose opened hand, wide-spread o'er great and small, 
Provides thy creatures numberless with food. 
Thine is the Tree of Life, thine the streams that roll 
These golden pavements o'er. Thy name revered we bless, 
And in thy Son thy grace adore all fathomless." 



Scarce said, when at the pearly door appeared, 

Sent from the father of the human race, 

Grreat Adam, — here by all redeemed revered — 

A chosen few, to ask the special grace 

Of visit to his house, that upward reared 

Its dome, where 'neath o'er-spreading boughs, its face 

Life's river hides. Abraham, Moses, Paul, there were; 

Whose presence known, the late arrived did deeply stir. 



Israel's father thus : " Great Chieftains, hail. 
Who high on earth, our native soil, have been 
Prime ministers of God, since first its sail 
Time wide unfurled. Wise have ye ruled o'er men, 
Whose deeds of wickedness in misty trail 
Have oft your prudent work opposed and reign. 
Unmoved your purpose fixed, still have ye watched with care 
And nursed with gentle liand each bud of promise there. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 71 

"All kind your toil, yet unperceived by those 
For whom ye minister. Their fleshly mind 
Deep weighed by matter dull and things that close 
Their vision to your work, can seldom find, 
In ways of providence and grace, what flows 
To them of good, by your strong hands combined. 
Yet not perpetual stays upon the eye of faith 
This mist — but, like departing night, escapes at death. 



" Then see as we, the souls from sin redeemed, 

What thanks, through Grod, they owe your ministry. 

Thus toils through tardy years the hand full-beamed 

With hope, that in their frail minority, 

Young children guards. Unpaid and often streamed 

In tears, it sows in deep anxiety 
The seed, whose harvest time shall ripen into fruit, 
That late life's evening calms with joys departing not. 



" Such is your toil o'er dark faith's infancy. 
Its high reward is here, where lost the vail 
Of dull mortality, with clear and grateful eye. 
The children of your care perceive in full 
The debt they owe. Then seize they ardently 
The hand, that o'er their earthly life all frail, 
Was oft outspread against some fatal ill unseen. 
Or brought to their deserted lips the food of men. 



72 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" But I digress. Beneath yon shade reclined 
Adam, our honored sire, now anxious waits 
Our ministry. By deep concern inclined, 
Us hath he sent to hail you at the gates 
Of Heaven, and urgent ask, if so your mind. 
His mansion to attend. Earth's changing fates 
And history, that wide his work through ages long 
Evolve, his heart with deep emotions fill yet strong." 



Consent they gave, and on from stream to stream 
Of Life's fair tide, and round its verdant tree 
All rich in fruit, to Adam's went. Not dream 
Of paradise below, and minstrelsy 
Of joy converted soon to sighs, now beam 
Around him vain. Beside, all beauteously 
His Eve, and Abel blest, whose faith and virtuous deeds 
Now shine matured in land, uncursed by sterile weeds. 



Earth's parent thus : '' High Guardians of the race. 
That from my mortal blood vast countries fill. 
And who, from this right hand, that still the trace 
Of fatal act deep bears, have gained of ill. 
What tears and groans, and Heaven's descending grace 
Have not removed — your sight awakes a thrill 
In this deep bosom moved, that not combining all 
The splendors of this place can blessing now recall. 



AMERICA DISCOVEEED. 73 

'• True, on my crime rolled pure from yonder throne 
A crystal tide, that where it reaches heals. 
Yet in that crime, whose inward sting and groan 
In me have long since ceased, this bosom feels 
A life, that through long centuries alone 
Relieves in those, whose earth-born fate it seals : 
Still moves in this warm heart the blood dispersed afar, 
That in each limb of earth first caught contagion here. 



" Not joined to me, as to that Holy Seed, 
Who stooping far the nature raised, by me 
Transmitted lost, are now Grod's elect freed 
From fatal curse ; yet deep and anxiously 
A parent's love I feel, that with each need 
And rising joy condoles all tenderly. 
Each soul redeemed by grace, that here arrives in bliss, 
No warmer heart doth find, than strong-embracing this. 



" Late come from land thus living in my heart. 
Perchance, some news ye bring, that may delight 
Afford, or, if ill tidings all, impart 
A tearful sympathy. With day and night 
Close joined, earth struggles long in busy mart 
Where more that wealth is sold. Nor know we right 
Before, what picture brings each messenger that comes 
From that oft changing land of strong contending dooms.' 
4 



74 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

Habdiel thus : " Adam, by all revered, 
Of human life the spricg, and root of Him 
By blood, who has thy fatal work repaired — 
Due honor to thy state and lasting fame ; 
"Whose faith as early fall had all men shared, 
Not from the list of life had passed one name 
Of all thy num'rous sons. Redeemed as righteous thou. 
These mansions had they filled all blest around thee now. 



" But such is vile men's deep apostasy, 
That while thy crime they rashly imitate. 
The path thy feet that led all righteously 
Above, but few perceive. Mad on their fate 
God's law they proudly scorn, till wretchedly 
They meet the bolt that with tremendous weight 

Strong Justice hurls. Thus calmly moves the stream self- 
blest. 

Till o'er the cat'ract dashed, loud thunders fill its breast. 



" Yet not such fatal course do all pursue. 
Some, touched by grace that from its fountain flows 
Unbought. their state perceive, and in the view 
Themselves abhor undone, as warmly goes 
Their faith to him, the Great Messiah true, 
And on his mercy hangs to heal their woes. 
These pass from age to age to this high Palace blest, 
Where 'neath the Tree of Life they share unending rest. 



AMEKIOA DISCOYEKED. 75 

" What numbers thus from various nations called 
Enjoy this grace, 'tis yours to computate. 
And glad are our warm hearts, so oft appalled, 
With cares below, to see the millions great. 
That here like sands along the sea high-walled, 
A vast assembly make, that were one state 
All earth, its tenants would appear an unknown few. 
Compared with vast the hosts that now encircle you. 



" Not prevalent the cause of truth below 
As formerly. Idolatry, the sin 
Of earth, that in the verdant South a blow 
Had hard received, northward did still retain 
Its hold. Like avalanche of melting snow 
That from some Alpine height o'erspreads the plain, 
Southward it came, by Gothic, Vandal ardor prest. 
Freezing the life of faith in wide each Christian's breast. 



" Wedded to this idolatry, the Bride 
Of Truth, the Church, has felt the poison steal 
Deep through her heart, corrupting in its tide 
Each limb, that time nor priestly hand can heal. 
Extinguished thus the light, with sceptre wide 
Night reigns, beneath whose dark and cruel wheel 
Earth groans in tears from pole to distant pole uncheered — 
'Tis this vast gloom to light our journey here we've steered." 



76 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

More had been said, but now earth's envoys deemed 
The time far spent, and taking friendly leave 
On passed to holy gate. O'er jewels beamed 
With light that earthly eyes could not receive, 
And through surrounding groups, that shining seemed 
Each made of flame, they pass. Them to receive 
At arching portals stand high angels of the Lord, 
Who welcome give by look and by each uttered word. 



Thrice lowly bowed, before the throne they stand 
Their worship offering. " AVe praise thy name, 
Son, exalted by thy Father's hand 
Like honors to enjoy and equal fame. 
Worthy art thou from far each distant land, 
And holy Seraphim, the purest flame 
Of worship to receive. Of Deity unknown 
To creatures else, thou only art the full-orbed sun. 



" Ere first these pearly walls or gates arose, 
Or on thy Father's will, suspended firm, 
Strong pressed the adamant that downward goes 
To prison Hell — ere first wide ether warm 
Felt in its mighty womb the early throes 
Of nascent worlds, that 'neath the hidden charm 
Of Wisdom, Pow'r, leaped into life from nothingness — 
E'en then unborn, unmade, thou wast all righteousness. 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 77 

"Yea more — thj hand through dark the shrine 
Of Grod's immensity, did light the fires 
That on each distant coast of space now shine. 
High hung by thee revolve the mighty spheres, 
That through a boundless universe combine 
In awful harmony. By thee high rears 
Proud Nature strong her pole — its basis fixed thy will. 
Its dewy joys the beams that from thy love distil. 



" Thy breath is Reason's life that dwells within 
The Seraphim, or breathed in mortal clay, 
Revives to thought what else had darkly lain 
Brutality. Philosophy its eye 
From thee receives of flame, the mighty plan 
To search revealing all a Deity. 
Its author Thou, low bending at thy throne should fall 
High intellect of man, and strong archangel tall. 



" Yet brightest on thy crown, Immanuel, 
Is Mercy's gem, whose pure and tender ray. 
Emergent from the flames that awful dwell 
In thy divinity, when far astray 
Falls on the sinner's heart, as in his spell 
Of crime a mother's voice all tenderly 
Upon her son. More strong that gentle beam to heal 
And save, than thunders loud that crash wild peal on peal. 



78 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" On mercy based and reared by sovereign grace, 
Through ages long thy church ascends in Time. 
Polished by hand unseen, each stone its place 
Assumes accordant to the plan of Him, 
Who from eternity the whole did trace 
In his benevolence. Thus from deep shame 
Comes forth, as light from chaos dark, the temple high 
Of grace — its base the earth, its dome the crystal sky. 



" For this thy mighty work, and trophies gained 
From Hell, that now upon the pearly face 
Of Heaven high stand, as lofty mountains chained. 
To some great continent — we give Thee praise. 
For ministry below, where oft deep-pained 
We've fought with enemies, or watched the ways 
Of humble saints as on they journeyed slow — for all 
Thy grace to them, to us, we now before Thee fall. 



" Thy love, all ages past by us enjoyed, 
Sweet aug'ry gives that to the falling dew 
Of Time's descending eve, that love employed. 
For us and for thy Father's cause, anew 
Will schemes originate, till are destroyed 
Who now thy church and truth assault not few. 
Such grace to ask deputed by our hosts we've come, 
Seeking for saints oppressed a new and happier home. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 79 

" Thy truth below usurping priests have sold, 
Thy saints have slaughtered, and thy kingdom filled 
With hypocrites. These pearly walls for gold 
Are titled to the base, whose hands have killed 
The just, or in the ways of sin grown old. 
Thus, far the earth, sad prophecies fulfilled, 
From Thee has lapsed and truth. Thy heavenly warriors hope^ 
Past harvests lost, new lands to seed with better crop. 



" From where the frozen sea sends up in clouds 
Its icy mists, to where the southern cape 
Cuts with its rocky arm the deep that shrouds 
Its base with foam, a land of fruitful hope, 
Long ages owned by savages and crowds 
Of prowling beasts, outspreads its virgin lap. 
This golden land the guardians of thy saints below 
With tree desire to plant, whose fruit shall always grow. 



" Before thy throne, and unapproached beside 
The shrine, whose inner light has seen no eye 
Create, we bring our cause. To us are hid 
The counsels deep, that there in mystery 
Of wisdom, grace, for ends remote provide. 
That ark we touch not base, nor strive to see 
Its records unrevealed. AYho made directs at will. 
Nor can a stronger arm the throne eternal fill. 



80 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

" Yet dare we, on thy Father's love and thine, 
That far descends to heal each creature ill, 
Our prayer to urge. That love ne'er sought in vain 
Will cloak our fault if high ascending still 
Our way be dark, and secretly some chain 
Unknown to us of vanity doth fill 
The mind — confiding thus, we leave our work with Thee, 
Head of the fallen race where lies our ministry." 



Thus praised, petitioned they. Answ'ring the King 
Replied. " Warriors, who long the doubtful strife 
Of blood have borne, and high o'er earth, in spring, 
In winter, through all time, have risked your life 
My flag to bear — sad tidings though ye bring, 
'Tis mine to pledge and grant the sought relief. 
Wise are my Father's plans to none beside made known, 
Tho' dark the clouds afar that oft surround his throne. 



" For ends by him, by me approved, Hell reigns 
On earth ; yet, reigns but short : that triumph soon 
Reversed, will end in base defeat and chains. 
Heard is the prayer of faith by me, and groan 
Of every saint, who of his foes complains 
E'er upward moves, till harbored at my throne. 
It shake, vibrating fast, that sword with vengeance hung. 
And stir those sleeping bolts to spread destruction long. 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 81 

'• That sword, these thunderbolts I firm repress, 
Lest earth and hell should bathe too soon in blood. 
Yet Mercy hath her bound, and Righteousness 
In time, will wake the vengeance of a God. 
That day of wrath with hurried step doth press 
On heel of sin, nor lingers by the road. 
Ere yet on earth our foes have half their malice spent, 
That fatal day will dawn in wild astonishment. 



" The prayer ye bring is just, is truly wise : 
That Land oppressed by me hath been redeemed, 
Asylum kept for later years. Still lies 
It dark, and long by pagans trod hath seemed 
O'erlooked in Providence. Yet loudly cries 
To me its state, on which hath never gleamed 
Salvation, grace. That Land (it is my Father's will 
And mine), that Land shall Truth and lasting Glory fill. 



" From priestcraft freed and laws of erring men, 

There shall the Conscience clear its rights review; 

Ascend re-crowned its fallen throne again, 

Bowing alone to what it sees is true. 

Based on its freedom gained, the Truth all plain. 

Shall rear from earth its shrine to heaven's high blue — 
Shall throw its portals wide unstained by bloody crime, 
And glad all nations take to Freedom's happy clime. 
4* 



82 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" High 'mid the clouds in golden sunbeams drest, 
Shall peer the waving Flag of Freedom's cause, 
Sweet dews of heaven bright pearling on its breast, 
And at its steadfast base all righteous laws. 
Beneafh its folds' reposing calm shall rest 
Long ages through my church, unfeared the jaws 
Of savage foes. Thus bulwarked in the nation's heart. 
Freedom and Truth shall fear no threatening tyrant's dart. 



" Yet not the work is done, when from its tomb 

Of years, ye bring to light that continent. 

Faith must be found, and from its secret home 

Revealed, enlighten wide earth's firmament. 

Not else the power of all-controlling Rome 

Ye can defeat, or from her prisons pent 
The souls release, who, now beneath her iron arm, 
Groan 'neath a curse, that love, nor reason's voice can charm. 



" Nor distant far the day, but now the crown 
Of morning gems with purple joys. When past 
Two ages short of life, that scarlet throne 
An iron hand shall feel remorseless prest 
Upon its trembling heart. With dismal groan 
Shall shake its deep foundations, doubly fast 
By crime and years. Upheaved its mass of blood and sin, 
Its potent arm shall break o'er half the minds of men. 



AMERICA DiSCOVEHKi). S'S 

" The Instrument in time I'll raise — the son 
Of John by prudent love of Marg'ret blest. 
Of Mora he. she from Neustadt won, 
Eislebcn the cradle, where in peace shall rest 
The infant Hercules. As peers the sun, 
Dark clouds dispersed, so, o'er a world oppressed. 
Shall sliine in his high hand the Jiook of life divine, 
Radiant with truth and read by all each vital line. 



" This light on Albion's heart shall purely fall, 
Reflecting thence to where, o'er western seas, 
Calm ginks the orb of fire beneath the pall 
Of night. Condensed, in heaven's high arch, its rays 
Shall wide-dispersed revive the soul of all. 
Liberty ?jcneath her head shall raise 
In joy — her heart renewed by grace, her wide-spread wing. 
Bedewed with silver drops from Heaven's baptismal spring. 



" Go then, and to your warriors brave relate 
The will of Heaven — my Father's fixed decree. 
Go tell them joyous of the coming fate 
Of that elected Land of liberty. 
O'erlooked, the wise, the proud, the earthly great, 
High Heaven delights to raise low poverty : 
O'er lands long famed for science, wisdom, taste, to pass. 
And cast its starry shield on some hid wilderness." 



84 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

He said, as joined in bursting cliorus all, 
High rose the song of Heaven around his throne : 
"Image of Grod unseen, Great Son, whose call 
From empty nothing reared all nature, strown 
In crystal balls through space around this wall 
Of high magnificence. — Thou art alone 
All wise — all true — and 'neath thy conq'ring arm oppressed, 
Thy vaunting foes shall lie in crowded vengeance dressed. 



" Thy church redeemed shall high in glory dwell, 
Thy saints rejoice beneath thy potent reign: 
Thy power revealed shall shake the gates of Hell, 
Nor shall proud spirits tempt thy throne again. 
Reign in thy might, Great Immanuel, 
Thy kingdom just confirmed o'er rebel men. 
Send forth thy truth — thy rights of covenant and blood 
Maintain, till man restored, in Thee beheld his God." 



Not longer stayed earth's envoys in the blaze 
Of Heaven's high jewelry. — Downward their way 
In ardent haste they press, nor to the haze 
Of stellar lights now cast the onward eye. 
Arrived, their mission all exulting praise, 
Their wisdom, zeal, and prudent energy. 
Great Abdah next without dissent they all agree, 
The Instrument to train, and guide his destiny. 



BOOK IV. 

THE STUDENT. 

On, who can tell the sweetness of that hour. 
When signal given by bell or chronicler, 
Whose classic tones have gained parental power, 
Joyous students haste from college walls, where 
Through the tardy sun, they toiled all day to store 
Their minds, 'mid dusty tomes with anxious care ! 
Forth from the old torn doors of massive piles they rush, 
And up in heart of each youth's buoyant pleasures gush. 



Grlad their eyes the brightness of th' sky now greet. 
And glad their cars the breath of evening take : 
With bounding stroke the earth receives their feet. 
And all with joy their prison-walls forsake. 
Some to the city go, kind friends to meet; 
Some to the post, home's tardy lines to seek : 
Some rural scenes delight, as 'neath o'erarching trees, 
Or through the grassy lawn they stroll in evening's breeze. 



86 AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 

Some, too, and these not few, (for smiling Love 
Oft clad by stealth in famed Minerva's robe, 
As moves the classic lip, doth secret move 
The heart, whose pendulum within doth throb 
With heavy beat ; whose sighs do ever rove 
To some fair lass, that like the polar globe 
Strong chains its prisoner,) — some the arching portal nigh, 
To feed on rosy cheeks love's soft and languid eye. 



Frown not, Professor stern, at youthful loves 
And youthful sports. Kind nature prompts to these. 
How sweet, have Poets sung, are mated doves ! 
How needful. Doctors, evening's luscious breeze ! 
The vine to some near prop its tendril moves. 
The verdant heart to some fair bosom flees ; 
And were it not for evening's laugh and cheerful play. 
The brilliant youth worn down, would soon live out his day. 



Ah, innocent these sports, and far from blame 

These loves, if not abused. My heart e'en yet, 

O Athens ! turns to thee, and sighs to be the same. 

As when with smiling lass or joyous mate, 

It felt of love the first bewitching flame. 

Or wandered free the green at sweet sun-set, 

With hearts that kindly loved, with hands that held me fast. 

Oh, sweet those hours ! and only wept that they are past. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 87 

'Twas eve at Pavia, learning's leisure hour* 
And now bad sounded forth the signal bell, 
That from old walls glad youths did laughing pour. 
Fast on the stony walks resounding fell 
Their footsteps light, as from the classic door 
Each turned to city, or to sylvan dell 
One, thoughtful, traced a way that none beside did go, 
A hedgy path that led him to the flood below. 

Tall was his form, his face vermilion hue. 

His eye light gray, with diamond-fires thick-set, 

Aq'line his nose and well proportioned too ; 

His cheek-bone high, his hair mixed red and white : 

Tow'ring his brow, that to another's view 

The temple seemed of thought that with its fate 

Hard strove. Like trumpet clear his tongue, whose varied 
tone. 

Sweet joys could soft infuse, or rouse the struggling groan. 

'Neath pendent arch involved with arch above, 
Sad canopy of thought, he goes. Dark trees 
To him are counsellors, whose vagrant grove, 
Vocal with life as round their aged knees 
The wild winds blow, now whisper soft of love, 
Now solemn thoughts awake in sighing breeze. 
Dilates his kindling eye, his ear to nature's lore. 
As pants insate his heart with longings still for more. 



bb AMEEICA DISCOVEEED. 

'Twas on a rock that o'er sweet Tesin peers — 
Tesin, that from St. Gothard rolls its tide 
Of silver joys, and through lake Yerbane steers, 
Till lost its waters clear in Padus wide — 
Tesin, whose sunny stream from blood Time clears 
Of Roman, Tyrian bold, when down the side 
Of Alps Great Han'bal came, and near this pearling stream 
The Roman Eagle turned, wreathing his brow with fame. 



'Twas on a rock o'er Tesin's glassy tide, 
With green moss clothed in part, and partly gray ; 
"Whose base was deep, its summit strong and wide, 
He pensive sat, and thought his hours away. 
Beneath his feet bright fishes sport and glide. 
And o'er his head gay swamp-birds chirp and play — 
Through windows in the forest pours red sun-set's beam 
That gilds the wing of eve along the sportive stream. 



He sat, and thus he thought : " Sweet, lovely stream,- 
Thou art the image of my life, that yet 
To manhood reaches not. In my young dream 
As thee play sportive things ; and days beget 
New thoughts that come and go, and ever seem 
Fast hurrying onward to some distant fate. 
Ocean thee receives and drowns thy silvery tide, 
And thoughts of mine are lost in dark oblivion wide. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Yet fresli from secret springs within arise 
New thoughts, new joys, that ceaselessly do fill 
The mind, as rills from mountain-rocks thy sighs. 
Gone th' Insuber, that walked thy quiet hill; 
The Roman gone, that o'er him vanquished cries : 
The arm of warring Hannibal is still ; 

Nor stirs thy silver wave the Lombard Conqueror ; 

Nor treads thy grassy banks the Frank or Celtic more. 



'•All these have passed away. — Grone, too, the lip 

That oft in thee has quenched its burning fire ; 

The maiden's foot that o'er thy green did trip ; 

The youth's struck-heart that felt that maiden's ire ; 

The cruel lord who here his slave did whip ; 

The infant young that held its aged sire — 
All these have passed away. — Yet, Tesin, thou art here. 
As fair and young as when on thee first shone a star. 



•'And so 'twill be with me. My earthly life 
Like theirs shall pass away — my gray hairs fall, 
My manly strength, subdued beneath the strife 
Of days, lie low in silent dust ; and all 
Tliat's mortal fail. Yet full I feel a life 
Within, that like thy sunny wave, the call 
Of death can never heed — a something stirring there 
That lives through ru'n ; of immortality the heir. 



90 AMEEICA DISCOVEEED. 

" But when in Ocean's wave thy pearls are lost 
To tliee and me, where do they wander off? 
Oh, is there not some far and sunny coast, 
With soft grass bound or mossy rocks all rough, 
Or sands where sea-birds walk, that they are cast? 
Beyond dark ocean's wave, is there no bluff 

Where blooms the rose, and where in Spring sweet turtles coo? 

Oh bright, enchanting stream, that I could follow you !" 



He said, as on his ear fell soft the tread 
Of traveller. Alarmed, he raised his eye 
To see who to his woodland shrine was led. 
And what pursuing he had come so nigh. 
He seemed a shepherd in his look. His head 
A grassy cap concealed. From chin to thigh 
A frock by flaxen band was tied. Coarse slippers held 
His feet : around his legs kind nature was his shield. 



In his strong hand a shepherd's crook was seen. 
And on sweet evening's breath his hair was poured. 
Boiling his radiant eye, that large and keen 
The window seemed of knowledge inward stored. 
In dress though plain, yet noble was his mien. 
And in a shepherd's garb he looked a lord. 

''"Whence art thou, stranger, said the pensive youth alarmed; 

And why, at this late hour, comest thou here unarmed ? 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 91 

" Has from thy folded flock a lamb here strayed ? 
Or hast thou missed a bullock from thy herd? 
It surely cannot be, that here some maid 
Has fled thy Love ; whom, as the frighted bird 
By eagle prest, thou chasest to this shade : 
Her loving step or voice I have not heard. 
Perchance a fellow-shepherd here has sought retreat, 
And thou art pressing hardly on his absent feet." 



The stranger thus : " My flocks 'mid Alpine vales 
Repose, now kept by other hands. No lamb 
I seek or bullock lost ; nor maid here trails 
My loving heart. Nor hither have I come 
To seek some wedded mate, whose absence fills 
My anxious hope. These cluster all at home. 
I only wander free of care, and visit brooks, 
And starry hills, to read in nature Nature's books. 



" From Pavia's learned School, I ween, thou art ; 
For such thy fair complexion, burning eye, 
And lamp-worn brow assert. Not thither dart 
My thoughts, but widely seek their liberty. 
The lofty peak I climb, heeding the heart 
Of Nature there ; or, near the evening sea, 
I list all calm its groans and everlasting base. 
Feeding, absorbed my thoughts, on its profound abyss. 



92 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Dark forest still I love, wliose solemn cliarm. 
Checking the thought profane, subdues the soul 
Of earthly things, and on its sombre arm 
Upbears it lost to Heaven's eternal goal. 
The night-bird's note, the cuckoo, and the storm, 
The murm'ring brook and shades delight me all. 
Nor has great Nature wild one chord untuned in me, 
One note deep-struck, but fills my heart all ardently. 



" Thus spent my life through tardy years. This cheek 
Pale sunken shows my ardent zeal. The storm 
I've battled oft as from the cloud 'twould break, 
And in mad wrath would strike this climbing arm, 
High struggling up the Alps from peak to peak : 
And oft in deep ravines, Apollo warm 

Would seem to dry my blood and burn each heated bone ; 

And oft the tiger's teeth I've heard and lion's groan. 



" But why on this lone rock sittest thou here 
Absorbed in thought? That stream thou seem'st to love. 
As youth the cheek of maid. Say, hast thou there 
Entombed some friend ? Or, is it the fish that move 
Below, as if at evening play, that share 
Thy mind ? Perchance thou art thyself in love. 
And moodest here, because the lass whose smiling eye 
Once rolled on thee confidingly has turned away. 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 93 

" Young love is often brine as well as nect'r. 

The lip's proud scorn, the cold and deadened eye. 

Or smile to other given — how oft they wear 

Away the heart and chill its ecstacy ! 

Ah, on the cheek of many a maiden fair, 

And on her ruby lip, are darts that fly, 
More deadly to the soul than steel of warring Mars ; 
More poisonous than story tells, malignant stars. 



" Perchance some fated arrow from the look 
Of thy fond love has reached thy inmost heart ; 
Has drunk thy spirit's blood and killed thy book: 
And writhing still beneath that woful dart, 
Here hast thou come, beside this pearling brook 
To cool thy flame. Or worse, perchance thou art 
So lost, as not to see on what thy eyes do rest, 
And madly think'st that water is thy maiden's breast 



•' Awake from thy deep dream, fond Youth, and tell 
A stranger who thou art ; what studiest thou ; 
And why so near the sound of evening's bell, 
To this gray rock and stream thou cleavest so ? 
Say, wast thou born at Ticinum, or fell 
Thy lot elsewhere 1 Thy eye and forehead show 
Something of hope ; and in the gloom that rests on thee 
A star unborn I ken of burning brilliancy." 



94 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

The rose upon liis marble cheek, he said — 

" Can this be shepherd, or philosopher ? 

Perchance my learned Sires have herein laid 

Some secret plot, that I to them may bare 

My heart. Why said so much 'bout loving maid ? 

Have they of me and blue-eyed Ella heard ? 

Oh Ella, Ella ! at thought of thee I all forget ; 

This brook, this chiding wight, this grove and fair sun-set. 



'• The day I last received thy dewy kiss, 
And curled thy auburn hair, and held thy hand, 
As by the Saints thy lips did still confess 
Thy love — that day, that deed for ever stand ! 
As curls the vine in twisted, hard embrace 
Around some verdant tree, so winds its band 
Strong love around this heart and thee. To love thee less 
To me were death ; to love thee more too much of bliss. 



" Perhaps howe'er I err, fearing where most 
My treasure is. Perchance 'tis vanity 
They seek to tempt Full oft young students boast ; 
And I perchance on Learning's nervous ear 
Some careless word have dropped that yet may cost 
Me dear. Can this be college-censor here ! 
Strange man, strange look, strange words ! Oh that interpreter 
Could give the meaning full of what salutes my ear ! 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 95 

Such were his thoughts — his words were thus : 
" Tis no unusual thing for me to sit 
On this gray rock, calm viewing as they pass 
These pearly drops. Near water born I yet 
The water love ; and while upon its face 
I look, so sweet, so passionless : I get, 

Or think I get, the emblem of the Deity. 

How calm as love this brook, how wild as wrath the sea ! 



" Of humble birth myself, my native place 
Is noble all. High Queen she palaced sits 
Enthroned, where Ligur's calm and starry face 
Runs up the main, and at the base begets 
Of Western Apennines a knee. A race 
Of tradesmen bold, whose spirit Freedom whets, 

There reign, and through Bosphorus woo the Orient trade ; 

Nor woo in vain, for wealth and diamonds crown their head. 



" But these like nightly stars shine over me ; 
And from them, save as idle looks will feed 
On others' goods, bless not my poverty. 
Not are these bones and flesh of royal seed. 
For clothing which you see my parents sigh, 
Pressing the comber's card that I may read ; 
Dom'nic the one, Susan the other called ; both fair, 
And I of them more proud than if of Spain the heir. 



96 AMEKICA DISCOYEEED. 

'' Not long I've been at Ticinum, nor long 
Can I remain. The tears that feed my lamp 
Call me away. Ambition's hold, tho' strong, 
Yields to a higher claim. The night-dews damp 
Fall on the face of age, while I so young 
Live honored 'mong the honored in the camp 
Of learning, fame. My student's life thus trembling held 
By age and love, reluctant all, I yet must yield. 



" Where next I go, I know not. Fate will choose, 
Or Grod, a better name. Perchance I'll join 
The toil my father knows, and earnest use 
As he the comber's tools. Perchance purloin 
From Turks and pirate-men what I may lose 
Again, or skilled in war retain as mine. 
Still these delight me not ; but some new scheme unknown, 
Some untrod path — some bold adventure all my own." 



'• Brave thought," high-charmed exclaimed the traveller, 
" And wisely formed in youth. Why should a son 
With genius born, and made great things to dare, 
Low trace the humble course his parents run ? 
Babes in the arm kind mothers softly bear, 
And lads ungrown those ways should wisely shun 
That fathers interdict. Yet why by parents' will 
Should after life be roofed, 's if men were children still ? 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 97 

" When from its feath'ry nest tli' youug eagle soars, 

It leaves behind subjection to its dam ; 

For food no more it looks to older powers, 

But plies new-fledged its wing and eye for game. 

Why then, hard-chained beside parental doors. 

Should conscious Genius pine far off from fame 7 

Has Poverty no gem in Glory's crown to shine ; 

Or shall that brilliant pearl the parent's hearth confine ? 



"Kemains yon diamond drop at Gothard's feet? 

Or, hastes its pearly globe to Ocean's roar ? 

There might it rest beside its parent sweet ; 

Yonder 'twill leap and dash t' return no more. 

Yet laughs it onward as it goes to greet 

The deep, nor lingers here on Tesin's shore. 
So should the gifted youth from feet of Poverty 
Depart — so seek in other clime his destiny. 



" Yet not till full parental debt is paid- 

The heart that yields a mother's tears but stone ; 

The ear that cry of father hears not sad ; 

The hand that sisters leave to strive alone ; 

The eye that will not look at home's deep shade ; 

The feet that from its groanings lightly run — 
Be these accursed by man, by God, by human law ; 
Be these devoured by fish and by the lion's paw. 



98 AMEBIC A DISCO YEEED. 

" Ungrateful wretch is he, who tears the heart 
Of love from home, and dots his sinning way 
With its crushed sighs and blood. The highest part 
In Fame's proud shrine — rich jewels reaped like hay — 
The praise of men — his country's good — the heart 
Of half mankind — such guilt ne'er takes away. 
On his cold brow th' abiding curse of Heaven is prest, 
And Fame with scorn shall cast him from her shudd'ring 
breast. 

" But ne'er to deed like this thy heart, I ween, 
Will lead, unless thy filial face denies 
The baseness born within. Gently will lean 
On thy strong arm decrepit age, its sighs 
And sorrows hushed, where long has trustful been 
Its hope — thy noble breast. Thy sympathies. 
Like nightly dews returning to the parent soil, 
AVill shed o'er age its tears and heal each grief with oil. 



" Thy filial work well done, before thee lies 
The world : look o'er its map and take thy stand. 
Above thee shine each night the boundless skies ; 
Around thee spreads in mountain, vale, the land : 
On the proud deep his bark the sailor plies. 
And to his troops the soldier gives command : 
In hidden cell the scholar burns all pale his lamp. 
And o'er the ground high-scorned the Great triumphant 
stamp. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. ' 

" 'Mid tliese select thy destiny. Once made. 
Forsake it not, but ply with energy 
Thy path. Weak minds, like summer's varying shade, 
Oft change their taken track capriciously ; 
The great, their course in judgment deeply laid, 
Hold fast, and reach its end triumphantly. 
Behold this pearling stream ! content with its own lot, 
Through ages long it rolls its tide, and changes not. 



" So should the youth, who eyes some distant fame, 
His purpose firmly press from hill to dale ; 
Opposed, encouraged, still pursue the same. 
Nor once his mind through doubt permit to fail. 
Glory's extreme is the deep gulf of shame, 
And he who yields his end lifts there his wail. 
Not always Fortune's iron arm can mortals bend, 
Yet he who strives the most is most her chosen friend. 



"And if your course a stranger may advise. 
The ocean deep shall be your future home. 
So look your almost sailor face, your eyes ; 
So augur I from these, your fortune's doom. 
Nor coast thou timid o'er the land-bound seas. 
But where has cut no keel great Ocean's foam. 
Perchance beyond Cape Bajador and Verd are lands, 
Perchance beyond th' Atlian wave high golden sands. 



100 AMEEICA DISCO YEEED. 

" If spherical the earth, as sages say, 
And larger not than Alfragan maintains ; 
Then's eastern Thinje not the door of Day, 
Nor Azore where she drops her golden reins. 
The western coast we know, the orient may 
Far outward reach in ocean's wide domains. 
If error this, between no doubt there lies unknown 
Some golden coast, — some mountain-ridge — great Ocean's 
throne. 

" See, o'er this pearly steam, a verdant shore ; 
Bold Padus in his pride still has the same. 
Beyond the southern sea great billows roar 
On Libia's sunny coast. Proud ^^tua's flame 
Beyond the Tyrrhine burns ; and Euxine more 
Boasts Pontus south, and north the Scythian name. 

Has Ocean then no coast to bound his western reign ? 

No shore with mighty arms his billows to restrain ? 



" That coast, where sinks amid descending dews 
The star of love, and where the crested moon 
Her couch each evening finds, as ever grows 
More dim her eye — that far Hesperion, 
Where every light that sets to us but glows 
With golden beam on its ascending noon — 
That unknown land pursue, thy purpose fixed and strong, 
When Time the means shall yield and thou no more art 
young." 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 101 

He said ; as blazed his clianging face to flame. 
And o'er the pearly stream expand in wings 
His shepherd's garb. High through the air like beam 
Of golden light he flies, yet downward flings 
His radiance soft on evening's grove and stream. 
Pale on the rock the student falls, as rings 
Upon his frozen ear the voice so strangely stilled : 
Cold was his stiftened frame, his heart with wonder filled. 



Himself again, to Ticiniim he turned 
His feet. Long had the sun his fiery crown 
Cooled in the Gallic sea ; and now sweet burned 
O'er Alpine snows the star of love. The brown 
Of evening filled the wood, and mournful yearned 
The night-bird in her song for mate now flown. 
'Mid forest-trees all loudly clear his footsteps fall, 
As onward, pale and still, he seeks the college wall. 



iJ 



BOOK V 



THE ADYENTUREK 



Sea of the middle earth, whose western head 
The high Atlantic bathes, whose feet are pressed 
On Palestine ; what glory Time has shed 
On thee ! Grreat Rome upon thy maiden breast, 
Proud Greece upon thy distant knee, are laid. 
Thy silv'ry wave all o'er is richly blessed 
"With isles of fame ; and e'en thy back and sandy heel 
Are guarded well by Punic and Egyptian steel. 



The waters of the distant Russ and tide 

That laves the Pyramids, both meet in thee. 

High Alpine snows melt in thy northern side ; 

Leb'non and Spain unite fraternally ; 

And Barb'ry's sun-burnt rills, nor long nor wide, 

Still haste to find in thee satiety. 
Thou art the mother of waters ; in thy bosom 
Meet all rivers, and in thy ample heart find room. 



104 AMEKICA DISCOVEKED. 

'Twas first upon thy shore the chord of song 
The son of Maia struck. Apollo rose, 
Long-haired and silver-bowed, thy waves among. 
Orph'us thy dashing billows heard where flows 
Th' Hebrus to th' ^gean. And he whose song 
The fabled and the known connects, that goes 

Still young o'er time, immortal Homer, sang of thee ; 

And from thy wave th' Mantuan drew his minstrelsy. 



Upon thy classic hills Philosophy 

G-ray-haired her wand extends ; and 'long thy shore 

Proud El'quence boldly pleads for liberty — 

For liberty, that now on thee no more, 

'Neath turbaned Turk and purpled Papacy, 

Is known ; yet still that liberty of yore 

Spread its broad leaf far o'er thy billows and thy isles ; 

And reared upon thy rocky coasts its marbled piles. 



Upon thy smooth and virgin face have met 
The Persian and the brazen Greek for blood. 
The Punic sailor and the Roman yet 
More bold, have perished in thy wat'ry flood. 
Arbiter thou hast been of nations great. 
Who on thy yielding wave have fallen, stood. 
Oh could the dead that tomb thy classic wave but speak. 
Thy rocks would rend and all humanity would shriek ! 



AMERICA DLSCOVEREJX i05 

Salvation's bow thy orient feet adorn 
High o'er Jerusalem ; where holy kings 
And prophets ruled, and Israel's Hope was born. 
Thence o'er thy waves its glory-beams it flings, 
Quenched in thy present night, but cast unshorn 
On other lands. The world that bow now rings 
With beauty, joy; and on its mellow arch is hung 
The faith-born hope of all, the aged and the young. 



Oh, wondrous sea ! The present and the past 
Are thine ; thine learning, thine the crown of power. 
Yet on thy faded shores in vain are cast 
Our eyes to find the wreath thou hast no more. 
Time has made thee bare — yet e'en thy trodden waste 
More glory hath than monarch's crown or floor. 
Thy soil is vocal — not a twig or rock on thee, 
But wakes the heart to deep and mournful ecstacy. 



He stood upon thy shore, the noble son 
Of Dominic, as o'er thy glassy wave 
Far reached his anxious eye, to see alone 
The coming sail. Like mourner at the grave. 
All thought he seemed, as low some smothered groan 
Would pensive rise, that with his purpose brave 
Held inward strife. Yet high resolved and anxiously 
O'er Ligur's port he looked, and sought the distant sea. 
5* 



106 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

One called him back, fair Ella, who had shared 
His heart through tardy years. Not yet the age 
Of manhood he had reached, when love had paired 
His heart to hers, unmindful of the rage 
Of fortune stern, whose iron heart un-eared 
Heeds not the call of youth, but on doth wage 

Remorseless war 'gainst human bliss. Ah, hard to love. 

Yet feel the prison-walls of such strong power above ! 



She stole upon his sea-lit face, as night 
Upon the traveller. Her silent tread 
He heeded not, till her soft hand so light 
Was trembling on his high-raised forehead laid, 
As drooped her dewy brow beside the wight 
She loved — " My Christopher," she rising said, 
" I fear that sea. Long have I watched the hidden flame 
In thy brave heart to get us wealth and get thee fame : 



" But love is wealth ; and if on India's shore 
There be a mine more pure, more deep than is 
This heart to thee — go seek that golden ore. 
With thee all toil, all care were highest bliss ; 
With thee to live, of Heaven I ask no more 
Of joy — this is my cherished paradise. 
Without, the sea, the land, the gemmy sky were nought, 
And riches, honor, fame, to me one hateful blot. 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 107 

" Potent thy hand, and mine to skill is given, 

Nor hath a crime defaced our character. 

Why then should our warm hearts by seas be riven ; 

By wind-tost hopes be torn and anxious fear ? 

Hath honesty on land for bread e'er striven 

In vain ? Shall we the first that mis'ry share ? 
Oh yield thy purpose bold, crown of my maiden love, 
My one hope's end — my heart's sole life — nor from me rove." 



As summer-rain that on the oak doth fall, 
That gems each leaf, and pride to tenderness 
Doth melt, so wept he at her loving call ; 
So drooped his heart beneath her kind embrace. 
Nor strange — for she throughout was lovely all. 
Blue as the peaceful sky, all tenderness 
The orb of her soft eye. Her golden tresses float. 
Kind as the zephyr's breath, around her neck, her throat. 



Ruby her lip — her almost speaking smile 
Soft as the lily's hue — her gentle form. 
Yielding as willow-bough, when past the gale. 
Delaying winds still wreathe its pendent arm. 
So looked she in her loveliness, a pile 
Of grace that art and paint can never warm. 
Yet that to him which was o'er all her brightest star, 
Was love, deep love, that beauteous made her doubly fair. 



108 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

With eye like rose-bud in a dewy morn, 
And lip like aspen in the sighing breeze, 
He kissed and thus addressed his Love : " Not torn 
From thee, Dear Ella, in the distant seas 
I'll be. Thy love can never be unborn. 
'Twill live with me through life, and nought can freeze 
But death its glow. Ah, could I think that parting seas 
Would drown of it one beam, I'd hate those cruel seas. 



" Thee more I love than wealth or glory's plume ; 
Thee more I love than all of earth beside. 
Ah, cold and dismal as the lonely tomb 
Would be all else to me, if not my bride 
Thou should'st become. Thou art the star that gloom 
Of poverty doth cheer — in storms, the tide 
Whose sunny bosom takes my shattered bark in peace : 
The pillow soft where oft I lay my care-worn face. 



" 'Tis love for thee, thou angel of my heart, 
Thou fairest one in all the maiden throng, 
That tread the green of Ligur's beauteous port — 
'Tis love for thee, that makes my int'rest strong 
In mighty seas. We need so young a start 
In life. To risk our future all were wrong. 

Thy love I know, the dextrous skill of thy soft hands ; 

But what can mortals do 'gainst Fate's supreme commands? 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 109 

" To till the soil I know not ; to traffic 

In a lane, is far beneath my honor. 

Cobblers, hucksters, petty knaves by trick 

May live — but I prefer on seas to wander. 

There Fortune's lifted horn my hands may take 

In lawful trade — or, snatch the Moslem's plunder. 
Not long the hasty days that heaven revolving gives ; 
And I thy smile will see, when Autumn drops her leaves." 



Love's hard consent reluctant all she gave, 
Pressed his strong hand and took the farewell kiss. 
Deep-moved within his sea-heart yearned tho' brave. 
And still her lip he kissed with warm embrace. 
She left him, but her heart pursued the wave. 
With leaden foot she reached her parents' face ; 
With leaden eye and heart looked cold on all things there : 
Nought smiled, nought joyed, but all appeared to her despair. 



The rose her gentle hand had nursed looked sad, 
The leaflets of her love-trained vine hang down 
In mournful solitude. The smiles, that had 
Of sisters filled her heart with joy, now drown 
In misery. The play of babes all glad, 
And singing birds are themes to her unknown. 

Her absent heart leaps with the ship on distant seas ; 

Her smitten bosom throbs with untold ao-onies. 



110 AMERICA DISCO VEKED. 

Not long could bear her lily-form such grief: 
Perished the rose that morned her maiden cheek ; 
Beamless her faded eye ; her lip like leaf 
Of Autumn pale, silent and sad doth shake : 
Her blood runs thin and cold, and death like thief 
Comes secret, rapid onward. Visions make 
Her gloom more dark, as on sick fancy's canvas gray 
Her lover's hearse she sees, and her own widowed day. 



Their wakeful skill physicians ply in vain : 

Her only remedy the wave had borne 

To other lands. Nor lay in bloody vein 

Her sicknesses. His bitt'rest, deadl'est thorn, 

Strong Love had fastened in her heart, whose pain 

All others magnified, and one alone 

Could heal. On him she called, with frantic wildness called ; 

But him from her the unregarding seas had walled. 



" Oh sea," she often said, "Oh cruel sea ! 

Why might I not thy foaming billows climb ? 

Since he too tender was to stay with me, 

"Why dared I not thy wave to stem with him 1 

But this, alas ! is woman's destiny ; 

To love, dying to love, and yet for shame, 
E'en from him who knows it, half-conceal the inward tire, 
Whose flames her heart consume, and never, never tire ! 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. Ill 

" Oil Christopher ! thou name to me more dear 
Than all of earth and half of Heaven above — 
Oh but for once to clasp thy image here 
On this warm heart, and show how much I love ! 
But no. The bounding deck thy feet shall bear, 
The heartless sailor look, as thou dost rove, 
On thy bright eye — and e'en the rope thy hand shall feel, 
And the rough billow hear thee, broken by the keel ! 



'• But this true heart, so full of single love 
To thee — that rolls in pensive sadness round 
Thy loosened ring — that tracks the silent grove, 
Where oft we strolled in joy 'neath tender sound 
Of evening-birds — and eyes, oft eyes the wave — 
This heart so full of love, is only bound 
To take the thought — to catch the air of thee — to feed 
On crumbs, while alien hands possess the vital bread !" 



She said, as freezed upon her eye the tear. 
She tried again to speak, but heart nor throat 
The smothered words could pass. Another near 
Propp'd her swung head, whose call she heeded not ; 
But on her maiden couch as fatal bier. 
Cast her loose limbs devoid of feeling, thought ! 
Her golden tresses still around her temples lay, 
And still her faded eye was turned the wat'ry way ! 



112 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Long months had passed ere first he heard the deed 
His prudent love had wrought. Long years, ahas ! 
Before his mind from that dark gloom was freed ! 
Oh thou, on whom some young and loving lass 
Has fixed her heart, and thee has made the meed 
Of her chief earthly joy — touch kind the case 
That bears her jewel frail. — Rough held but once 'twill break, 
While at the deed too late thy bursting heart will wake. 



Proud stood the gallant ship, its evening's prow 
South-eastward turned, its canvas floating white ; 
Its sun-lit stern on high Genoa now ; 
Its buoyant flag in beams of golden light. 
'Long its dark sides in strong and massive row 
Lie th' caved iron, whose sulph'rous throat in might 
Jove's thunder loud becalms, when round Olympus spreads 
His cloudy battlefield, or o'er the QEtan heads. 



Behind, on evening's shaded hills are seen, 

In crescent form and rising far and high, 

The marbled palaces of Ligur's queen. 

On either side the hill-raised vineyards sigh 

With odors sweet, as from the orange, vine 

And terraced gardens come all balmily 
The freighted winds, that like a mother's tender breath 
Breathes them away in peace, and for their welfare pray'th. 



AMEEICA mSCOVEEED. 118 

High on the deck in evening's mellow beam, 
Lone stands the son of Dominic in thought. 
O'er bay arose and palaces the gleam 
Of his warm eye, and on an humble cot, 
Where mountain-gray and city-white now seem 
To join, was fixed. Fresh on his heart the lot 
Of Ella comes, while her last words like plaintive airs 
His soul afflict — the dirge of deep and stirring fears. 

Still onward hies the ship 'mid setting sun 
And rising stars. Gray Twilight now her cloak 
Of ebon-gloom draws o'er great Neptune's throne, 
As leap the dancing stars on billows broke. 
Far o'er the larboard high and bright alone 
Gleams the glad sea-light from its pillared rock, 

While through the clatt'ring shrouds the night-winds wildly 
howl, 

And 'long the coast is heard the distant water-fowl. 

Oh night, maternal Night ! how soft do fall 
On land and sea thy shadows dim ! Thy wing 
More gentle is than turtle's down, or call 
Of tend'rest love. On thy kind lap do fling 
All burdened hearts their cares, and 'ncath thy pall 
Sleep off the woes that leaden Time doth bring- 
By daylight's lamp. Soft as the tender dews that balm 
The lawn, is thy still breath our passions all to calm. 



114 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

'Neath the dark pole each seaman sleeps in peace, 
Save they who watch the stars and guard the ship. 
The helm these hold, or climb with up-turned face 
The peering mast, as onward still doth skip 
The gallant bark, nor lingers in her race. 
No sound is heard save screaks of rubbing rope, 
That all night long their lullabies do plaintive pour. 
And the dull splash of waves that strike the floating floor. 



But short the cradling rest. Aurora soon 

Her blushes sheds upon the eastern sky ; 

As o'er the snow-clad Alps dark Night her noon 

Drops down, and bids the orient world good-by. 

Out the blue wave his golden locks the Sun 

Lifts up, as playful on the water lie 
His beams. Rubbing his eye the half-slept seaman wakes, 
Bathes his warm face in haste, and day-born duty seeks. 



Falls calm the sun behind the Spanish sea. 
And Night once more her gemmy curtains spread 
Around her pole, when with the dawn they see 
The isle of Cyrnos dim beyond th' Mora's head. 
Cyrnos — where once the straying bull did flee 
By Corsa sought ; and where by fortune led 
The Thespidce, from fifty sisters born at court 
By Hercules, first found for their tossed bark a port. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 115 

Cyrnos, — whose soil the potent foot did feel 

Of Mariiis, Sylla — which Vandals ruled, 

And Saracen subdued with burning steel. 

But these are nought. Hence He, who proud controlled 

Europe's domain — on thrones his plebeian heel 

Did fix ; and as 'mid palaces he strolled 
Made vacant royal heads, and crowned what brows he chose ! 
Enthroned, a god ; deposed, whom scarce one stranger knows ! 



Bright glory, shame. Napoleon, thou, of France ! 
Like the strong eagle from its rock built stand, 
That distant eyes the storm with haughty glance ; 
Yet steals when nigh its wings and scorns the land — 
So didst thou rise on wings of Providence, 
Whose wide-spread blasts all Europe roughly fanned — 
So didst thou fall when calm those wings again were furled, 
And Grod, his purpose wrought, forgave a sinning world. 



Now half his morning course had Phoebus run, 
When down the anchor sinks in Cyrnos' port. 
Two days here resting 'neatli the dews, the sun. 
The Mora lay. The third begun, they start 
For other lands. Joined to their number one 
Was here received, Feraldi's son, whom art 
And nature kind had full endowed. At Florence born. 
Freedom he loved ; her tyrants loathed with bitter scorn. 



116 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

As drop to kindred drop doth flow, so ran 
The heart of Christopher to Haraldin. 
Apart, them Nature both on one great plan 
Had formed ; as in the grove, wide hills between, 
Are often seen gigantic oaks, that fan 
The breeze with etpal arms. The Florentine 
In lore excelled, in genius bold the G-enoese : 
High majesty of soul the same did each possess. 



First glowed their hearts to love, when now did tell 
The Florentine, the strifes his native land 
For liberty had known — how Nobles fell, 
And in their stead high Demagogues did stand, 
Who placed with sterner eye a baser heel 
Upon the people's neck. Of Guian's wand 
He spoke, high raised for liberty, that bold did tear 
From office, place, the Great, by potent G-onfal'nier. 



Too weak the Gonfal'nier wild passions' rage 
To quell, of high Nobility he told, 
Exotic in the land, who firm did wage 
Destructive war the Prior to uphold. 
Albaz' he named and Uz', as on the stage 
Of changing power they came, devoted, bold — 
Too bold — whose fatal Balia pierced fair Liberty, 
As fell her Palle waning to the Medici. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 117 

While thus his Country's page he turned, his eye 

Indignant burned and heart, as loud he said : 

" Oh Queen of Arno, like the hills that lie 

Around thy palaces, whose evening head 

The melting sunbeams gild, embracing I 

Thy liberty, alas ! now distant fled, 
Enshrine in this warm heart ! — May from thy ashes rise 
Freedom revived to clear anew thy dusky skies !" 



Firm on his blazing cheek now steadfast gazed 
The Genoese, deep felt his words of fire. 
" Your plebeian nobles tell what causes raised 
To power? Great worth, or wealth, or Heaven's ire? 
The first, revered they should by all be praised ; 
The last, the hope of freemen sole is prayer ; 
But if by gold have peered the free above the free, 
Then all should hate or seek that potent quality." 



" 'Tis wealth," with scorn the Florentine, '' that makes 
Our chains. Like wealth our titled Gentry had, 
And still might hold, but for the sad mistakes 
On them entailed. They loved the Ghibelin, 
The people all were Guelf. As when forsakes 
The body doth the head, so came between 
The castles and the shops stern death — nor yet hath time 
From lordly Nobles 'rased that unforgiven crime. 



118 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

'• No blood to boast, our present lords are they, 

Who hold a liberal purse — Liberty 

No doubt the people love, yet willing pay 

A higher debt to gold of piety. 

So speaks the past, so loud the present day. 

When freedom, gold, in equal scales do lie, 
Trust not the free — too soon their toils and pains they'll give, 
With liberty, for wealth ; and on its spoils will live." 



" But whence such wealth," responds the Genoese ? 
" From plunder, high-tilled soil, or distant sea V 
" The last," replied the Florentine. "The seas. 
More criminal the eastern seas, our free 
Enslave. Thence come on ev'ry fragrant breeze. 
The silks, the spice, the diamond's brilliancy, 
That 'cross the Persian sands the struggling camel bears, 
Plebeian Royalty to dress, and shine on plebeian ears. 



" One feeble hope our gloomy sky yet holds. 
The Turk — no thanks to him — hath spread his moon 
O'er all the land that such rich trade controls. 
With Christians 'raged, he will no doubt and soon 
Their trade exclude, or raise too high the tolls 
Profit to yield. Thus Moslem wrath a boon 
To Liberty will grant, that ne'er so strong appears. 
As when her standard high the toiling yeoman bears." 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 119 

With warmer eye tlie Genoese replied. 
" Too far chaste Liberty all wealth excels. 
This none can doubt ; yet, sure, is not denied 
All worth to gold. None seek as idle shells 
Such boon ; but o'er the land and sea all wide 
Their prize with energy pursue, while swells 
Each bounding heart, as round his happy doors are spread 
The products of the winds, or fruits from nature made. 



" Since good the two, then why the two disjoin? 
'Tis not in either lie the ills that men 
Afflict ; but in their passions deep that join 
To work their overthrow. 'Tis only when 
On restless neck of lust men drop the line. 
And cease beseeching appetites to reign, 
That Liberty too free awakes the dreadful storm, 
That Wealth strong wings with power to do its utmost harm. 



" 'Tis at their passions, then, that we must aim, 
The double curse if we would root from men. 
Like tree the fruit that's borne, and streams the same 
As mountain springs from which they come. Within, 
The hateful tyrant reigns that we must blame. 
This bound, destroyed, and man is free again : 
His noble nature proud to heaven in grandeur peers, 
His unbound heart restored in ev'ry virtue shares. 



120 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Of Turks you tell, who lift the cimeter 
O'er Christian men, that seek the eastern trade — 
But shall these Infidels our hands deter, 
As if, for them alone such boon were made 7 
The wrong all Europe wide to war would stir, 
And fill the eastern shores with new crusade. 
Soon would the Crescent proud from its high throne be hurled, 
And blood-stained swords re-open wide the orient world. 



" But let me not too bold for others speak. 
Of common blood and poor a private scheme 
I have. For madness most perchance would take 
My thoughts — yet are they more than idle dream. 
Long years have passed, but they do not forsake 
My brain, increased by time as morning's beam. 

Philosophers announce our dwelling-place a sphere ; 

Then why not brave the deep and sail due westward there ? 



" Especially, possessed that needle's aid. 
Whose origin Amalfi claims ; yet wrong — 
Since Guinizzelli in his published ode 
Two centuries before, its praises sang — 
And long ere he, enraptured Guiot said, 
Northward pure magnets tended, short, or long — 
Perchance the Saracen we hate its use first knew, 
Or in remoter climes, who dwell 'neath India's blue. 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 121 

" No matter whence — it points the Arctic star : 
And when that light, dark Jupiter doth hide, 
High Phoebus dims, and Dian with his car. 
This magic spright doth still our journey guide, 
Through billows vast to home's loved altars far. 
Of use on inland seas ; where Ocean wide 
The Occident maintains, its aid much more 'twill yield. 
And moor the wearied ship 'neath some Elysian field." 



'Twas night. Once more her lofty chandeliers 
High Nature hung in her vast temple dim. 
Her sombre priests, high mountains, waves, and airs, 
Her altars dark now crowd with dirge and hymn. 
The dewy forest sighs, the ocean bears 
Her bass along, while deep imbibed the theme. 
Vast continents and isles the nightly sabbath keep : 
Vig'lant the earth beside, and man alone doth sleep. 



One ofF'ring sweet e'en he doth joyful bring — 
The vesper meal. Of costly viands made 
Or common fare — 'mid palaces that ring 
With joyous mirth, or where in her lone shade. 
The widow and her orphans sit 'neath wing 
Of poverty — yet always blest and glad 
Is evening's board. An household sacrament ; it binds 
United hearts by chord, that ever, ever winds. 
6 



122 AMEEICA DISCOVEEED. 

High on the wavy deck brave Gascar spreads 
His nautic plank. The snowy flax conceals 
Its ruggedness, as virtuous deeds the shades 
Of unknown character. Above, wide steals 
The arching tent from nightly dews bare heads 
To screen and solar beams. In centre shields 
One steadfast lamp a glassy shade, as round convene 
To simple fare the Mora's crew — now phalanx'd men. 



Brief the demands of appetite — not so past 
The supping of the soul. Till Night was throned 
Upon her arch of stars, this on did last. 
Of friendship, freedom, love ; the Greeks that groan'd 
Their country lost, and gloom thus widely cast 
O'er Christendom, they spake — of science join'd 
With art — events long past — the future destin}'- 
Of man — all these enkindled now their sympathy. 



Of man's high genius proof, that now did stir 
'Neath tyranny oppress'd, the high raised light 
Of truth to see — the pledge of things that are 
For him reserved in time, Haraldin set 
Upon the board a work of art, that fair 
All eyes enchained in curious gaze. Not yet 
Had others seen, though most had heard the mystery 
'Twas Book of God first printed in this century. 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 12^ 

Commenting thus the Florentine : " This art 
Did not philosophers, but lab'ring men 
At Rhemish Metz invent. Nor thence its start, 
But Strasbourg first. Guttenburg the plan 
There taught ; confiding taught to his own hurt. 
More shrewd than he his base disciples, when 
The secret they had gain'd, eloped, and Koster, Fust, 
A palm with Mental claim'd, that time will turn to dust. 



"But rogues or honest men its authors found. 
What blessings o'er the world 'twill richly shed ! 
Like vital seeds that fill the fruitful ground. 
Like summer's rain o'er nature's bosom spread ; 
So will this new-born art, its arm unbound, 
Upon the living pour the treasures of the dead. 
Hid knowledge then, so long confined in golden vase 
Of kings, will bless the poor, and elevate the race. 



" This Word— this Holy Word of God— will then 
Loud speak. The few possess it now, and they, 
Like thieves, who hate the light, its joy from men 
Conceal. But morning-star is this of day. 
When wickedness rebuked, the truth again 
Her trumpet-tongue shall raise to scourge away 

The wolves, and leave the sheep of Christ to pastors true. 

Oh, haste thou. Day of God, and bless our human view ! 



124 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Nor this alone. Philosophy, close join'd 
With reason pure, will leave her mazy field ; 
Her wordy chains will break, that long piirloin'd 
From bedlamites, have been an iron shield. 
To prison truth, and keep the nations blind. 
Sweet Po'sy, too, her broken limb well-heal'd, 
On golden wing will rise to spread her seraph light, 
Where else her balmy dew had ne'er infused delight. 



" Then Dante, thou, Apollo of the throng, 
That through all weeping time embellish earth — 
Then wilt thou wrap in numbers of thy song, 
That Heaven doth arch and binds its gloomy girth 
On Hell, all hearts fast held as captives long. 
Thy golden age no more thy iron birth 
Shall persecute. Th' Neri, Banchi, and thy thankless Town 
Shall live — but spots abhorr'd upon thy fadeless crown. 



" Immortal Bard ! How strong this heart now feels 
Thy fires ! Of all my pride the golden point 
Be this — that where on thee the potent wheels 
Of Fortune fell, Life form'd each bone and joint 
In me — that where blest wife, and name, and meals 
From thee were torn, my lot did Heaven appoint. 
Liberty's son, the Muses' richest heir ; thy fame, 
Thou Pride of man, shall live, when Florence has no name. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 125 

Two days, two nights, had fiU'd their round, 
When through the Tyrrhene borne, the Ostian tide 
They hail not far from land. On holy ground 
Beyond, proud Rome, where long with sceptre wide 
The mitred crown, contending nations bound 
On Peter's head, submissive at his side. 
That potent crown Alphonsus, late of Spain, now bore, 
And with it strove to raise against the Turks a war. 



Great Rome ! what boundless thoughts thou wakest up ! 

Extremes of things remote unite in thee. 

Snow'd Age and vernal Youth embracing groop 

Around thy feet ; and gray, lost Liberty 

Her relics shows 'mid steel of Austrian troup ! 

Apostles kill'd, Apostle changed to Deity 
Thou hast ! High Eloquence enthroned, barbaric speech, 
The wreath of song, and crying want, are in thee each ! 



Yet fallen as thou art, wrapt memory 
Thy sunken dust e'er treads with pensive awe. 
Like nature's Ijight eclipsed, thy struggling ray 
All eyes attract, as from thy temples low 
And high coliseum, the breathing sigh 
Of other years is heard. To learning law, 
To taste the model fix'd thou art — enriching, poor 
Thyself, the world with harvests from thy classic floor. 



126 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

First daughter of the Sun, high-built appeared 
Fair Naples next. In front, the gemmy Bay, 
Upon whose winding curve bright villas reared 
Enchant the eye. Capri, Ischia lay, 
Her feet to guard ; her virgin face was starred 
"With palaces. Beyond, in morning's ray, 
His smoky pile Vesuvius shoots in curves on high, 
Whose gems around the neck of Parthenope lie. 

Two days the winds pressed on the canvas wide, 
When now thy blood-wrote name, Pelorus, came 
In sight. Fell monsters here the beauteous side 
Of Sylla tear, while round her neck, oh shame ! 
Six bellowing throats upon the rushing tide 
Poured out their trumpet roar ! Twas Circe's flame 
For Grlaucus made such monster of a bride ! 
And ah ! if Circe's direful art did still remain. 
How many a lass t' rocks and dogs might turn again ! 

Your magic isle, fair Sisters, next doth lie. 
Whom Calliope t' Achelous did bear. 
A nautic choir, here did your minstrelsy, 
Your thrilling flute, and yet more thrilling lyre. 
The roughened heart of seaman make to sigh ; 
Till Son of Laertes, by Circe's care, 
Whom Hector's sword, nor Cyclop's potent arm could fright, 
Suff'ered you t' die, that he might still enjoy the light ! 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 127 

Charybdis next, with whirling jaws is seen, 
Beneath the scorning foot of Sicily. 
Too poor with spreading herds, that on the green 
Of her wide pastures fed, through penury, 
The herds of Jove's high Son she stole unseen. 
The Gods enraged, here fixed her destiny ; 
But left her crying throat wide open still in want, 
As sea-waves dash and roll upon its craving slant. 



O'er sea of blue and earth of distant green, 

Next iEtna peers, a frowning giant high. 

His shoulders snow, his head of fire is seen, 

His smoky breath upon the clouds do lie ; 

Eternal thunders roar and peal within, 

And round his feet unending harvests sigh ! 
Asleep a lamb, aroused a thund'ring Grod he's known. 
Whose wrath disturbs the land and wakes the ocean's groan, 



That wrath, Empedocles, thou feltest, when 
From fame, philosophy, and charming song. 
The poet and the man thou tossedst in 
The vaults of cav'rnous fire, that here belong 
To Jupiter. The Gods thy sandal thin 
Threw back, but bound the bard with fetters strong. 
Perchance their grating tones they sought to mollify 
With thy sweet verse ; or, thou some high-famed destiny. 



128 AMEEICA DISCOVEEED. 

These past, the Mora's onward prow now steered 
For Greece, where fruits of distant merchandise 
Gascar pursued. High o'er the sea she reared 
In pride, mid peaceful wave and sunny skies, 
That like the smile of all the gods appeared. 
The oars, the sails each vig'rous seaman plies, 
As rapid round the heel of Italy they passed, 
White billows broke below, and bent the freighted-mast. 



BOOK VI 



THE CAPTURE 



Hail G-reece ! whose mainland belts, whose islands gem 
The sea ! Fair land of song and valor hail ! 
Thou art the golden arch, whose bases Shem 
And Japheth hold ; whose classic curve not frail 
The temple props of learning, deathless fame, 
Whose walls the earth, whose dome the heavens assail. 
All hail. Great Greece ! whose soil by democrat controlled 
Or haughty Turk, still vital all is never cold. 



From each lone isle that sleeps upon thy wave. 
From each gray hill that props thy crystal sky. 
From sighing streams thy barren rocks that lave, 
And weeds that on thy widowed bosom lie, 
Sad memory recalls the mighty Brave 
Whose deeds of high renown can never die. 
Speak loud thy hills — speak loud thy ruin and decay. 
That e'en beneath the Crescent proud emit the Muses' lay. 
6* 



130 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Extinguished now are all the fires that Time 
Once saw upon thy hills. Liberty's blaze 
From thy strong hand has dropt, its only crime 
The light it shed upon the tyrant's ways. 
Fair Science, Learning, now not in thy clime. 
Have sought out other homes, yet speak thy praise. 
Des'late, but still with living glory clad thou art. 
Dim hues upon thy cheek, pale ardor round thy heart. 



One potent arm defends thy freedom yet, 
One sword bright glitters in thy setting light. 
Among the Stymphian hills brave Castriot 
Thy banner high unfurls with courage, might ; 
While Amurath, that bolt of angry Fate, 
His scattered troops recalls and takes to flight. 
Heaven guard the arm that last in Freedom's noble cause 
Fears not the lion bold, or his wide, brazen claws. 



First o'er the sea Tenarum peers in sight, 
Its foot the wave, its brow the windy cloud. 
Upon its bosom play glad sun-beams bright. 
And round its rocky knees dash billows loud. 
Air-hung beyond are hamlets of delight, 
Above whose sunny glare, snowed mountains proud 
Stretch to the Spartan gate, or seek th' Arcadian vale, 
Or orient turned, the citadel of Corinth hail. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED.. 131 

Eternal Clift ! Here Neptune built of stone 
His lifted shrine proud looking o'er the sea, 
That wrecked amid its waves the struggling groan 
Of seaman, borne on jarring minstrelsy 
Of winds, might reach his ear. The trident thrown, 
The lost oft raised the sea-god to his knee. 
'Mid dripping robes and gold no trophy here more smiled, 
Than o'er its stricken chords thy face, Arion mild. 



But hark ! Tartarus' smoky waves loud roar 
Beneath thy covered feet, as Son of Jove, 
High-browed and free, upon the sooty floor 
Of Pluto treads ! Amazed the misty grove 
Of spirits gaze, as with resistless power, 
Alcestis borne and Cerberus above, 

Hell mourns in wrath her queen and three-tongued keeper lost. 

Oh gallantry divine, what toil thy prize doth cost ! 



Next on the sea — Love's cradle — firm appear 
The rocks of Cythera. Borne in a shell 
The Cyprian Maid, by zephyrs fanned, did here 
Her beauty shrine, beloved of Heaven and Hell. 
In face an angel bright, a massive spear 
Her right hand bore, a shield her left, whose spell, 
Not brass, her safety gave. Here oft the Great, the Brave, 
At Beauty's feet adored, the Goddess of the wave. 



182 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Oh Beauty, fair but dang'rous power ! How oft 

Thy heart the sacrifice has been thy charms 

Require ! Thy smiles omnipotent, yet soft, 

Thy purity have often borne to arms 

That loved thee not ; or, thou in pride aloft 

Thyself hast plunged — too low ! — Fair Venus warms 

The breast of Mars, her plighted love to Vulcan broke ; 

And beauteous Helen fades in Troy's ascending smoke ! 



Malea next, where dark the waters break 
On sea-worn rocks, and where the billows yet 
The ghosts untombed of many an ancient wreck, 
Bear on their frosty foam : Ah dismal fate, 
To feel the biting winds, while others bask 
No better in Elysian vales ! And yet 
Such thoughts arose in charity, that in each breast 
Too weak, wild storms obliterate towards those oppressed. 



First of the Sacred Twelve, that calm surround 
The cradle of the burning God, arose 
Fair Melos clear, whose double head high crowned 
AVith rock, far off the lab'ring seaman knows. 
Sleeps at its granite feet in peace profound 
The waveless cove, above whose smile high grows 
The arching vine. Here kisses Spring stern Winter's lip. 
And from the Storm's cold brow the vernal dew-drops drip. 



AMERICA DISCOVEHEl). 133 

But ah, could yon prophetic rocks but speak, 
"What iron words would fall upon the ear ! 
First pride of Greece, they saw thee, Athens, wreak 
Thy fretted vengeance on the strong and fair ! 
Oh hard from heart of cherished sires to break 
The chain, that Nature firm has welded there ! 
Yet rose thy glit'ring blade in Freedom's hand to cut 
Deep filial veins as free from their parental root ! 



Pares next, whose marble womb th' embrios 
Held of Gods and Goddesses, that magic art 
With life inflamed, as round each feature glows 
Its hue, and bounding from the throbbing heart 
Each sculptured passion speaks from living brows. 
Not all the Sacred Temples hold. — A part 
Philosophy adopts, and on the sister face 
Of Gods imprints the epochs of the Grecian race. 



But hark ! a Poet's note ! Not soft it flows 
As dew upon the bending blade, or light 
Of star on lover's eye, or song that woos 
At night some tender ear. The lightning's flight, 
It blasts where'er it comes. Ilis smothered woes 
Archil'chus sings, bestowed on other wight 
His loved Ncobule. Vengeance his wrath decrees, 
As falls Iambic fire on heart of Lycambes. 



134 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Clad in their viny robes, as nascent Spring 
In Winter's arms, the Naxian hills arise. 
Like swans upon a quiet lake that fling 
Their whiteness on the wave, so gem the trees 
Afar the arching walls. Young as the wing 
Of morn thyself, thy rocks and gilded skies 
Loud speak of former days, when slavery's yoke thrice pressed. 
Thrice dashed thy hand the curse from thy indignant breast. 



The moorless isle, Astoria next, whose fate 

The trident fixed of Neptune on the sea, 

That fair Latona pressed by Juno's hate, 

And by the Python watched all ceaselessly; 

One spot might find uncursed to leave her weight. 

Great the reward — for, from such labors, see, — 

The Grod of song, Apollo rise, and Dian fair ! 

Did e'er a Groddess yield before such noble pair ? 



Sacred the spot ! Here met the Ion race 
In joyous sports, long ere the Alphean tide 
The laurel wreath beheld or victor's face. 
Here, too, by arrows guarded as a bride. 
His trust Apollo keeps. — Yea, more — this place. 
Great Socrates, what angry Greeks denied, 
And e'en thy wisdom doubtful chose, conferred on thee, 
Life's orb delayed to blaze in immortality. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 135 

Not long had Cynthus sunk behind the wave, 
When dimly far a sail the pilot sees. 
Om'nous its look, that fast approaching gave 
Fresh signs of enmity. Curled on the breeze, 
Three moons new-born its hoisted shroud did wave 
Around a globe of green — the badges these 
Of Turkish blood and hate. Aroused, brave Gascar cries, 
" To arms ! to anus .'" war's vengeance blazing in his eyes. 



His sword, his battle-axe, or burnished spear 
Each seaman holds, and steady on the foe 
Looks anxiously. The massive tubes some near 
"VYith lifted match prepared huge rocks to throw ; 
The adverse mast, the deck, the hull to tear, 
Destruction spreading as they onward go. 
Brief the delay, as loud the Turkish thunder roared. 
And splashing, dashing round the broken water poured. 



Like grace the Mora gives, as from her jaws 
Of lightning sped the instruments of death. 
Pressed on the Hassan's side his works to straws 
The rocky globes soon tear, their whirlwind path 
With slaughtered Moslems strewed. Enraged, fierce gnaws 
His teeth in hate the son of Haldarath, 
As still another flash of fi'ry brimstone gleamed. 
And wilder yet the waves around the Mora streamed. 



136 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Another storm of thunder-claps quick sent 
The Christians forth, as onward to the sea 
The peering mast and waving crescents went. 
The haughty Hassan leaving as a tree 
Bereft of boughs. In mad astonishment 
Their oars the Infidels resume to flee : 
In vain. For soon the Mora in her victor pride, 
Outruns the foe and grapples with his torn-up side. 



Yet stern authority nor winning love 
The Turkish wrath could cool, that now became 
More desperate, as for the vict'ry strove 
Close-joined each Moslem brave. Like lightning's flame, 
"When hurled its heated bolt from hand of Jove, 
Each sabre falls, destructive as it came. 
The price of conquest hard six prostrate Christians pay. 
While thrice their number fall of Moslems on that day. 



Stained was the trodden deck with blood, whose gore, 
From Christian veins or Infidel less pure, 
Fraternal mixed. All brothers at the core, 
Alas, that difl"'rent speech or difi"'rent shore 
Should nature's laws subvert by laws of war ! 
Thy shoreless tomb. Death, and conquests sure 

From infancy to age, cannot diseases fill, 

And plague, and fate ? Too slow — must man be taught to kill ? 



AMEKICA DISCOVEKED. 137 

Self-conscious of the crime, the hero's plume 
Bj glory fannedj yet stoops upon thy plain, 
'Mid slaughtered heaps some momentary room 
To find, and recollect himself a man. 
Deceitful tears ! that from thy bloody gloom 
No husband, father, son, calls back again ! 
Barbarous on a savage coast, thy glory fades 
To deeper night when Christians mix in thy dark shades. 



One toilsome day brave Gascar here delayed. 
The Hassan's treasure to arrange along 
The Mora's side. The massive gold, when weighed, 
Five thousand ducats made ; the silver hung 
At ten. Rich silks were found and balm that made 
Some thousands more. Nor these alone. Among 
The spoils were jewels rare ; captured, perchance, before, 
But destined now to shine on far some Christian shore. 



But hark ! a smothered groan as from a grave 
The joy arrests of victory. Unseen 
Below in dismal cell, whose gloomy cave 
No cheerful light revived, alone had lain 
Long months uncheered by hope, a hero brave. 
Touched by the sound through living, prostrate slain. 
Brave Gascar hastes. An iron door unbarred, he sees, 
Faded and poor, yet glad, a noble Genoese : 



138 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Gaspari ! Fates ! Can this be he ? The same, 

Who on the velvet shore of Genoa proud 

High walked among the free, the brightest beam 

In freedom's orb ! High o'er the plumy crowd, 

As mountain fir above the vale, the flame 

Of his high crest arose 'mid trumpets loud. 

How changed from that bright morn who here all ghosty lies ! 

A man, and not a man, so faded now his eyes !" 



His chains removed and light upon his eye 
Once more, the hero thus : " All just the Power 
That yon high arch sustains in purity. 
As bounds the bill'wy sea the granite shore. 
And on its haughty face all brokenly 
E-eturns its wave, so oft doth Heaven pour 
On sinful men their wickedness. Its blasted state 
The Hassan earns — the enemy of God and Fate. 



" Free as the air that fans these balmy isles 
We sailed the placid sea, escaped but late 
From war's tumult'ous strife. Sadly the piles 
Of Christian shrines that near Bosphorus sat, 
We left in hands of Infidels. Yet smiles 
Once more our tears illumed, that kindly Fate 
Our way had opened to our Christian homes. Too bright 
The rising joy — bedimmed as born in starless night ! 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 139 

" Windward we saw the moony shroud, that now 
On yon dark billow floats, high in the light 
Of heaven. As falcon from the mountain's brow 
That on the vale below, devoid of might 
The dovy flock perceives, and downward, low, 
As lightning on his prey swift falls ; so bright 

With joy on us, too weak for fight, the Hassan came : 

Sad relic of the crew alone of all I am ! 



'• Unable to resist, we sought to raise 
In their stern hearts, some secret charity. 
By common blood, by frame erect, by rays 
That issue from one gen'ral sun, by sea, 
By land, by home's desire and love of praise, 
By hope of gain, by future destiny — 
Their clemency we urged. In vain our earnest prayers — 
Weak as the cry of lamb upon the lion's ears ! 



" Our treasure gained — too small — they quench'd in blood 
The sordid appetite. Alphonso brave 
And Cassadere, high on the lifted wood, 
They crucified. Alberti, Laerhave 
And Hertz forced on the deck submissive stood 
To feel the sabre's edge. As sacrifice they gave 
To Neptune ill appeased the sons of Mazzarin : 
The rest by various means last closed the bloody scene. 



140 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Me they reserved for ends unknown. Perchance 
Their lust for flesh an after meal desired, 
As sated wolves desert for future wants 
The bones their teeth too long have gnawed all tired. 
Or hate to gratify, as glutton t' enhance 
His appetite by costly viands fired 
In various ways ; me, as a living sacrifice 
They kept, malice to feed in that befitting place. 



" But Heaven too kind for their infernal hate, 
Their thirsting tongues and hearts has now deprived 
Of sav'ry food. Well have they drunk, though late, 
The nectar-draughts by their own veins supplied. 
Imputed blood has seal'd the Hassan's fate. 
Whose iron heart to us all grace denied. 
Ye were the means — ^just Heaven the high avenging Power, 
That taught yon hated flag to tyrannize no more." 



The pris'ners bound, the bloody conflict o'er. 
Again the sportive winds the canvas fill. 
Bright was the JEgesm wave, whose gilded floor 
All peaceful lay, as if no martial sail, 
With spear and bloody sword, e'er ting'd with gore 
Its placid smile. So bloom 'mid tombs all still 
The laughing vines, that round sad hillocks low, or brow 
Of lofty monuments, no signs of sorrow show. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 141 

On, as a maid of queenly port, whom eyes 
Unseen admire, as through the busy street, 
Or gravel-walk, with lightsome heart she hies — 
So pass'd the joyous ship 'mid waves that greet, 
And happy winds her course. Yet often lies, 
'Neath cheek of pearl and eyelids bright. 
Some secret sigh that pride or charity conceals. 
As o'er the gnawing worm the rose exulting smiles. 



Blest Sympathy ! As from the willow's blade 
The tear-drop rolls by sorr'wing clouds let fall ; 
Or through the arching isles, that in the shade 
Of forests grow irregular, the wail 
Of mourning winds is heard ; so sighs all sad 
Through human hearts of human woe the tale. 
One instrument the race, who strikes too hard one string, 
The peace of all disturbs and makes ten thousand ring. 



Such is the heart, till selfishness and sin 
Have turn'd its silken chords to hardest steel. 
Look at the child — how near in heart akin 
To all his race ! And gentle woman still. 
Like olive in a grove of smitten pine, 
Receives on her kind heart and loves to feel 
The woes of all mankind. The truth I blush to own, 
'Tis chiefly man whose heart to man is made of stone ! 



142 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

One vital throb e'en here remains — deep love 
For land that nursed his infant smile. A vale 
Elysian all, or barren rocks above 
That frown on abject poverty, the soil 
One calls his own is sacred ground. The grove 
All still, the quiet stream, the willow pale. 
And wand'ring pathway far, have charms alone for him, 
That earth and smiling art beside, can never dim. 



Touch'd by the double flame, Graspari's side 
The Son of Dominic and Haraldin 
Enchain'd. His soldier's arm, his forehead wide, 
And eye of burning flame, that late had been 
In War's terrific strife, awaked unhid 
In them the sigh, on that all bloody scene 
Farther to gaze. So oft the silver lip of age 
Charm'd infancy surrounds, to glean some by-gone stage. 



High on the prow with radiant eye began 
The hero thus : " Sons of the free-born West, 
Whose emerald vales no proud Mohammedan, 
By crescent raised and sword, has e'er oppress'd — 
Sad is the tale ye ask, whose devious plan 
Rehearsed, like waves that on the hollow breast 

Of sea-rocks dash, responsive groans awake within. 

Day's orb erased I tell and Night's establish'd reign. 



AMEKICA DISCOVEKED. 143 

" Bright as the glassy snows on Alpine heights, 
But late arose the spires and gilded domes 
Of proud Byzantia. Through silv'ry nights 
With laughter free, along the starry streams. 
Or lanterned streets, her maidens walked. Delights 
Of ev'ry clime were in her port ; her homes 
Were quietness and peace — Free at his altar blest 
Revered arose in flowing robes her saintly priest. 



" Not thus her present state. As blighted grove 
AVhose arching arms wild winds have tossed in pride, 
The clouds high wreathing with the forest's love — 
So lies she now — the vale of sorrows wide. 
No sabbath-bell loud calling from above 
Invites to house of prayer — no happy bride 
At priestly altar stands. Profaned all these, the Star 
Of Islam shines on mourning waves, and hill-side far ! 



" The crown — of earthly crowns the starriest one — 
That first the head of potent Caesar wore. 
And Time had decked with all his honors on — 
This crown — that soon in night for evermore 
Was doomed to set — above the lock now shone 
Of Constantino. Worthy the brow that wore, 
Whose marble arch strong intellect within enshrined. 
Beating beneath a heart with ev'ry virtue joined. 



144 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Young as the Spriug. wlieu from lior icy home 
First peers her head with flow'rj ringlets crowned, 
The Monarch stood. Not yet the after tomb 
Of care on his gkd cheek was grayed, nor owned 
His Laughing eye a smitten beam. — The dome 
Of his young heart not yet had sighing groaned 
With sorrow's deep-toned bass — but o'er its arches rang 
The merry songs of joy, that choirs etherial sang. 



'' Twas first a care of State, the Monarch's arm 
To bless with suited bride. But who so fiiir 
Of womankind that noble breast to warm, 
And thence transmit of royal blood an heir ? 
Yain wish — since at the bridal door a storm 
Was rising fast, that on the empty air 

High royalty should cast as atoms on the wind ! 

Yet breathed each buoyant heart such angel spouse to find. 



" Phranza, 'twas thine earth's Eden to survey 

With curious eye, and from its balmy lakes 

Or arching bowers, some second Eve decoy. 

From where on frozen hills the feath'ry fiakes 

Of snow descend, to Grecia's southern bay, 

The vig'rous search was plied. — In vain — her locks 

The maiden shakes where Euxine bathes the Georgian sand; 

There fair Larissa smiles, the goddess of the land. 



AMERICA DISCOYEEED. Itto 

'• The nuptial night was fixed, when on her arch 
Declined, the golden moon of Spring should shine 
On quiet men. But in its fickle march, 
Oft flings ill-natured Time sad snows that line 
The lap of May. Not always monarchs reach, 
As other men, the goal, that high o'er pine 

And earthly hill-top rears its many clouded spires ; 

But seize as most the shade that in their hand expires ! 



" Yet sweet down path illusive still to gaze, 
And sip from airy things a present joy. 
Thus pleased, all eyes the ever-winding maze 
Of dark futurity surveyed. Employ 
All hearts the Monarch's bliss, and blood that strays 
Through other veins and other thrones enjoy. 
So smiles on ruby cheek of child the parent's kiss, 
Breathing the hues of life on other lips like this. 



" But hark ! War's clarion note is on the hill ! 
Byzantia stirs. Her spears and glitt'ring swords 
Fast rattle in the street, as on to fill 
The bloody line of death, pass hordes on hordes. 
Approach the hostile legions nearer still, 
As now is heard their horses' tread, and words. 
High mid the cloudy ranks the Moslem Chief is seen. 
Bright stars upon his crest and glory in his mien. 
7 



146 AMEEICA DISCOVEEED. 

" If ye have never seen, 'tis where his wave 

The Euxine pours upon the Marble sea, 

Byzantia stands. Her feet the waters lave 

Of Bosphorus — her arms all tenderly 

And breast repose on grassy hills above. 

With gloomy rocks that pierce the distant sky, 
One side Propontis guards — the other shields a wall 
High built of stone — the Golden Wave around it all. 

" From where its tears the Lycus pours serene 
Upon the Yellow Bay, to battlements 
Of Marmora, are double piles between 
Of granite high. Beyond, with jaws immense, 
A dark abyss, whose banks of double green 
Nor man nor horse can span. Strong thus the fence 
That round high temples, domes, and love's sweet fireside, 
Co-working Nature, Art, had placed close side by side. 

" But there are times, when Fate that rules the gods, 

Descends to dwell with men. Personified 

In some brave heart, it heaves from earth its loads 

Of adamant, and in its onward pride 

Turns thrones on high and palaces to clods. 

His form but man, his heart of muscle made, 

Mahomet planned. Time's toiling strength through years to 
foil. 

And shake 'neath Nature's steadfast throne her marble pile ! 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 147 

" As 'gainst some Alpine rock Jove's thunder breaks, 
That lifts its smitten brow above the storm 
Unharmed, so beat the northern wall the strokes 
Of loud artillery. As ^tna warm 
Upheaves her treasury below of rocks, 
That fill the air, and from her wrathful arm 
Sicilia shakes ; so seemed the hills above, that blaze 
And frown alternate in the smoke and distant haze. 



" One giant tube, more potent than the rest. 
Drowns all in its terrific roar. Uzzan 
This made — a Christian name — whose fallen breast 
Opposed the faith his life at first began. 
Alas ! that Truth by her own sons oppressed, 
Her banner high that waves should feel to wane ! 
Yet oft, the daring hand that casts her altars down, 
Smiling as mother once, she proudly called her own ! 



" The deep abyss attempt the Moslems next 
To fill. In vain — the Night encaverns all 
The Day supplies. Scornful, but perplexed. 
Afar the Sultan eyes the standing wall : 
'Shall I,' he cries, his Turkish blood deep vexed; 



'Shall I, who feel through heart and vein to roll 
The blood of Mighty Bajazet, and am the son 
Of Amurath, by Christian dogs be thus outdone ? 



148 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" ' Forbid it Fate ! Not always liatli its side 
The mountain high of rock. — Where tall yon firs 
Their kingly stateliness imprint in pride 
Upon the Golden Wave, shall pass 'mid birs, 
My high-land fleet ! As 'bove the clouds doth ride 
The eagle free, my lifted keels and oars 
Shall o'er the spires of Pera glide to feel below 
The wave. Such is my will — and Fate decrees it so.' 



" The miracle was wrought ! 'Long beams well laid 
Of lofty firs, across the sandy plain 
Descend the brigantines, as sportive shade 
From airy clouds. Beyond their tightened chain 
And fleet, amazed the Christians saw parade 
At morning's eye, the Turkish hosts. — In vain 
Resistance now, save in the Powers that rule above. 
And in each vet'ran's arm close by his foe that strove. 



" Night came. Not such as o'er the resting vale, 
Distils the dewy tear in morning's light 
To smile. Not such, as round her temples pale, 
Soothes with its balm the heart and eyelid shut 
Of dreaming maid. Not such as love to hail 
The happy swains, when 'neath the tent all bright 
Of heaven's high canopy, their wand'ring gangs by day 
Repose round peaceful fires, to doze the shades away. 



I 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 149 

" Portentous gloom ! whose starry choirs loud sang 
But dirges on the wind ! His last resort, 
St. Sophia's shrine the Monarch seeks. Along 
The sighing street with yielding step and short, 
As mourner to the tomb he goes. Low rang 
On gloomy walls, bedecked with various art. 

His onward steps : '• Perchance kind Heaven may turn the 
scale. 

That now on narrow edge suspends a nation's weal." 

" 'Long the dark walls of Wisdom's aged shrine. 
Pale gleams the sickly lamp, that half reveals 
The leaders of the host. — These now convene 
Around the altar last, ere loud the peals 
Of coming morn should wake a bloodier scene. 
With saintly hand and tall, the Priest kind deals 
The symbols of the cross—" Be strong, ye sons of war, 
Nor fear Mahomet's rage, or loudly thund'ring car." 

" 'Tis morn. With day's young eye began the roar 
Of loud artillery. The hills resound 
With thunder tones, and o'er the glassy floor 
Of roused Bosphorus, groans afar the sound. 
Peal after peal that seemed for evermore 
To ring, wide shake the wall and solid ground. 
As writhes unfelled by show'ry spears the elephant, 
So writhed uufallen still the tow'ring battlement. 



150 AMERICA DISCOVEEED. 

" Yile Grold ! thou hast a magic power to move, 
When martial arms are weak. Her liberty 
Of yore proud G-recia lost, not by the grove 
Of iron spears high raised from Philippi ; 
But gauzy wires of thee, fast bound, above. 
Below, round Freedom's arm ! Thy brilliancy. 
As star above a cloud, strong Hassan's eye beguiles. 
As leaps his massive bulk o'er heaps of frowning piles ! 



" As down the craggy rock the rushing tide 
Descends of some great waterfall, wide foam 
And rainbows arching 'long the noisy side 
Of falling thunderbolts ; so onward come 
O'er walls of flame the turbaned hosts, that glide 
As spirits of the wind. A fearful doom 
Awaits each Christian now, who yields his sword unwon, 
Or grasps more strong its hilt with double courage on. 



"As meets the king of beasts the unicorn, 
High-bounding o'er some desert wild, so pressed 
Each Christian hero on his foe. Far borne 
On distant lands, high burns the patriot's breast 
With fire, as o'er the field of death is strown 
His Country's flag. But who their firesides blest 
And smoking altars see, have hearts of hardest stone : 
So fought we in the breach 'twixt love and Turkish scorn. 



AMEKICA DISCOVEEED. 151 

" Brave Justin first — our countryman. As waves 
The lofty oak its head in some wild storm, 
High raised above the humbler trees, so braves 
His lifted crest, the sabre, and the arm : 
Of haughty Mussulmen. Piled groves on groves 
Of corpses lie around his giant form : 
Insatiate still, hot fury lifts his victor blade, 
The light beyond to see, or perish in the shade. 



" Nor dared he less — the noble Constantine. 
Unmindful of his crown, above his brow 
Of royalty high shone in glittering line. 
The crested steel. Upraised and blazing now, 
His sword the hostile ranks wide rends, as pine 
Jove's thunderbolt, that at its base below 
Its pride and glory leaves. Nor toils alone his arm. 
But wide o'er others stretched, directs the awful storm. 



" Ye Ghosts unseen, that 'twixt the closing eye 
And regions far remote officiate — 
What work had ye to do, as hurriedly 
Such crowds — your trust — from homes did emigrate 
Of mortal clay ! Below, or far on high, 
Ne'er more was pressed from earth your brazen gate. 
As furious tide that widely sweeps the plain along. 
So raged through street and lane the war, ferocious, strong. 



152 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

" Yet strives in vain the oak against the storm, 
Too potent for its strength. Not once, but e'er, 
The blast returns that rends its twisted arm. 
As fallen leaves in June to what do bear 
The boughs above, so seemed tlie corpses warm 
Below, to Turks high bounding through the air. 
By number, not by valor foiled, we yield the prize — 
Despair in every heart, lost hope beyond the skies. 

" The end, not mine — some iron tongue must tell ; 

Nor such till doubly frozen at the pole. 

All sympathy with life away shall steal. 

St. Sophia ! what maddened shrieks did roll 

From thy high arch ! Ye tender maids ! what peal 

Of untold agony awaked your howl ! 
What sounds unheard, ye matrons, stunned your bleeding 

ears ? 
How flowed your blood, ye priests, amid your altar-fires ! 

"As jewel trod by raving swine, that still 
Beneath their feet its dusted brilliancy 
Maintains, so lay amid the bloody pile 
Of slaughtered men, brave Constantino. His eye 
Undimmed, his hand still clenched on burning steel, 
Prostrate he lay, the last of royalty ! 

So sank to noble night Great CaDsar's sword-won crown ! 

So 'neath the Moslem moon the Christian orb went down ! 



AMEKICA DISCOVEKED. 153 

" As sparks from some great temple burnt, that rise 

And far in darkness fall, so fled the few 

Escaped from Moslem wrath to other skies. 

Wretched among them I, whose living view, 

Unsated yet with Turkish cruelties. 

Was destined to behold the phazes new 
Of that cursed moon. The rest on earth where'er they stroll, 
Kind Heaven protect — and blight the orb of Moslem rule." 



As fife and drum that to the battle field 
Proud legions urge, so fell on heart and ear 
Of each Graspari's words. High Fates concealed. 
The Christian's Grod, strong Justice, Love and Fear, 
Were all by turns invoked, their potent shield 
To interpose. Nor these alone. Did swear 
Each heart now hot, Islam's high flag through life to hate. 
In every land, her creed, her name, her hosts to desolate. 



BOOK VII. 

THE SHIPWKECK. 

Long years had passed, when on the airy rock 
Of Cintra, late escaped from shipwreck, stood 
The Son of Dominic. Briny his lock. 
That yet the sun from strife of ocean's flood 
Had not well dried. O'er earth, o'er sea, his look 
He pensive cast and on the distant wood, 
That with its fringing green the banks of Tagus drest, 
Or threw its maiden sheen along the mountain's breast. 



Low in the smiling vale, that half its joy 
In Cintra's shroud concealed, his strolling gangs 
A shepherd lonely watched, that like a boy 
Far in the distance seemed. Confiding hangs 
On struggling props, o'er hills and valleys gay, 
Autumn's rich vine, whose purple tears the pangs 
Of grief allay, or tinge the wings of joy with dyes, 
That only Nature equals in her evening skies. 



156 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Before, was Ocean's majesty, that late 
Its scornful frown upon his gallant bark 
Had fixed, leaving, nor pence, nor joyous mate, 
Life to support, or cheer its prospect dark. 
Behind, the beams of yellow evening sat 
On domes and citadels that proudly mark 
Olispo's site ; where wealth and glory meet the eye. 
And Pride its castles rears along the cloud-wreathed sky. 



High in the distance rise the misty peaks 
Of Iber far, where rocks and forests strive 
For prevalence, and green and gray, their streaks 
Combined, the solemn and the joyous give 
The scenery. Aspiring Art its villa makes 
Along the rugged steeps, where clustered live 
Sad eremites, whose smiling cells without, illume 
Below a world, their misled faith o'erspreads with gloom. 



Far in the skirting wood, bright Tagus rolls 
In winding way its wave along the shore — 
Tagus, whose smiling childhood playful strolls 
Through kissing roses on a golden floor, 
Till dashed by rocks at Toledo, it cools 
Its youthful heart, and wilder now its tour 
Performs to Alcantar : vast pillars here impede 
Its way — brow joined to brow by Adrian made. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 157 

Like pine late struggling with the storm, that lifts 
Its airy head o'er broken limbs, the wreck 
Of disrobed pride, high standing in his griefs 
He said : " Is this, through arduous toil the speck 
My heart has seized ! Of all thy various gifts. 
Are there no crumbs. Fortune, that lastly speak 
Thy charity to me? A cast-off son, no look 
Has thy repenting heart to ease thy blighting stroke ? 



" And why, if made thy mortal mark, the barb 
Must I receive where Nature only smiles ? 
Is there no barren waste, where vernal garb 
Of Spring ne'er blooms — no secret den where coils 
Half-seen the viper and the asp — no herb 
On some forsaken shore — where I the piles 
Of thy inflicted wrath might feel uncharmcd by life — - 
The dead amid the dead as leaf on rotting leaf? 



" Insane ! By sterling Wisdom unrestrained. 
Each morn, each eve with more enchanted eye, 
Thy changing form I chased, as evil-brained. 
Some youth the maid, that scorns his worthless plea. 
Alas, that only late, too late, is gained 
By man acquaintance with thy subtilty ! 
Coquetish Power ! who serves thy crown must some time feel. 
Thy laws and heart alike both made of hardest steel. 



158 a:\[kktc.v inscovEKEi-). 

"And thou tluit dulst on Tosin's evoiung t^hore. 
Angel or friend, excite to youthful fame — 
Is this the goal that thy malignant po^Yer, 
False to the eye as fled some meteor's beam, 
Through struggling years has reached in evil lunir? 
Bereft of all, is this thy subtle game i 
Alas, that thought in strongest minds below too weak, 
Some Power unseen by man should more erratic make ! 



" But not the rresent kills alone. Past 3'ears 
Their cycles slow evolve, whose bitter tomb 
Is filled with groans and sighs, that more my cars 
AlHict and heart than present, rayless gloom ! 
O Memory, whose graven record sears 
On life's best cheek its unsubstantial bloom — 
How deep thy lines of steel on sorrowing hearts are prest, 
When from the shad'wy past one boon they cannot wrest ! 



'^ Oh, sweet Liguria, that in some dell 
Of thee had been my unpretending home ! 
Then in the quiet vale where never peal 
The thunders loud of Fate, and where his doom 
The rustic waits with cheerful hope — each meal 
A sacrament, each barren spot all bloom — 
There had I viewed at morn the rose in dew-drops drcst, 
Or hummed at eve some air as sank the stars to rest. 



AMEliICA iJiSCOVEliED. 159 

" Blest Ella ! once my Love, my Goddess now — 
Had warm the tear that fell thy cheeks along, 
Eacli smile effacing as it rolled below ; 
Had that bright drop, more distant flung. 
But reached the heart tliat dies without thee now; 
E'en fate had yielded, and my purpose strong 
To court the sea adventurous, like tow'r on high 
Had fallen from its pride beneath thy conqu'ring eye. 



'• Ah man, proud man ! how oft to gentleness 
Of woman's heart, sagacious of the ill 
That thy strong eye, too fixed in selfishness 
On airy things, perceives not nigh — her call 
How oft from brink of yawning wretchedness, 
It plucks thy wayward feet, and makes a rill, 

Where else had been a cataract of howling woe ! 

Ah blest, thrice blest the men who such advisers know ! 



"But years not then or griefs tliis weighty truth 
Had written on my heart. Nature within 
I served, not Love without, whose tender youth 
Prophetic not I deemed of ills, that brain 
Nor strong philosophy endures, llueth 
My heart too late its deep-recorded sin. 
That like a viper bites, still bites ferociously. 
Nor lets its victim live, nor lets him peaceful die." 



160 AMERICA DISCOVEEED. 

He ceased, and on a rock of grayish years. 
Half sunk in sand, and half above the soil 
Its storm-beat brow that lifts, oppressed with cares 
Low sank him down. Above, the arching pile 
Of Summer's oak with crest and arms appears 
Like hero on the field, as file to file. 
Proud legions stand. Sunny its top as youth's first smile. 
Gloomy its shade below, as wrecked man's fun'ral pile. 



Hid in its wavy robe, as Cupid sly 

'Mid dangling curls on woman's iv'ry neck, 

A lonely songster sat, that merrily 

And loud his music poured from struggling beak. 

As smile upon the brow of infancy 

To manhood's gloom, that shoots its radiant streak 
Across the cloud of older care, so fell each note 
Kelaxing on his ear — his griefs now half forgot. 



Ah, if o'er life's more sandy plains, no rose 
Of beauty reared its head — if, 'mid its winds 
Of wild complaint, courted the ear of woes 
No sweet ^olian sounds — if care that binds 
Man's rugged heart, no smile on childhood's brows, 
Or love on woman's lips relaxed — if lines 

From Mercy's orb like these gemmed not our desert o'er ; 

How oft the heart would sigh, ah sigh, for evermore ! 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 161 

He felt the charm and with his adverse fate 
Philosophized. " Sweet, homeless bird, thou hast 
No barns of golden grain — no coffered weight 
Of earthly ore — no palace proudly cast 
Upon the sunny air — no robes rich set 
With jewelry — and yet, are joyful past 
Thy days in calm felicity ! No eagle high 
Thou fear'st, no arrow on the string, or archer's eye I 



" Gay in the storm as in the smiling beam, 
To-morrow's dawn on thee no anxious care, 
Unbalmed in dewy sleep, devolves. No dream 
Of things benumbed by buried winters, are 
To thee, afflictions still. Reason's high flame 
In man, that crowds ubiquity with fear. 
And dims to him the vales that bloom beneath the eye, 
Sheds not on thee its proofs of argued misery. 



" Pure as the ray Hesperus sheds upon 

The dewy blade is thy perennial joy. 

That with the morning dawns, and in the brown 

Of evening sets like star along the sky. 

All free thy happy wing ! O'er monarch's throne 

And citadels of pride, that from the eye 
Obeisance claim of men below, it upward soars, 
Undimmed its plume by care that weeds all mortal shores. 



162 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Oh could I rise with thee above the cloud 
Of gloom, that now my changed horizon dims — 
I too would sing, and strike with hand aloud 
My chordless harp. High poised on air, the themes 
Of youth and better days reborn, would crowd 
My heart anew, while lost 'mid childhood's dreams, 
Like vales relaxing in the vernal beam, love's charm 
And innocence once more would make this bosom warm." 



He said, as o'er the snow upon his check, 
Like Borealis 'long the northern sky, 
The purple light began to spread : yet like 
Those magic hues that soon retiring die, 
Back to its winter sank each bashful streak, 
Fixed paleness leaving on his brow and eye. 
Victorious thought rebarbs the arrow deep within. 
And night all starless binds her undisputed reign. 



But hark ! A stranger climbs proud Cintra's side, 
Hard struggling upward in the mellow beam. 
Ah, there are joyous times, when far and wide 
Man's eye from man dispels the brooding dream. 
That like a vulture perched in dismal pride. 
Sits on the bleeding heart ! But not on him 
Thus fell the light, that from the stranger's eye unknown 
Ill-auguring, he judged the blaze of wrath alone. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 1 

Firm on his sword, that spite of Neptune's hate, 
His hand had lifted on the bulwarked shore, 
His nervous grasp he fixed, and sternly sat 
To meet the coming foe. So takes its power 
The struggling soul, when at its broken gate, 
Strong Death triumphant stands. Convinced its hour 
Has come, from life's decaying throne unawed it smiles, 
And most the hero seems 'mid nature's funeral piles. 



But looks there are and words, that from the heart. 
Thrice cased in fear or deep malignity, 
Can melt the venom ofi", and sweet impart 
Felt charity. More near, the stranger's eye 
Betok'ning love, removed the unseen dart, 
That doubt and distance gave unwittingly. 
So from the thunder's track that shakes the distant sky. 
Distils the balmy rain, when storms are passing by. 



A wearied traveller he seemed, whose feet 
Olispo's gate had late forsook. Hard prest, 
His manly shoulders bore, in tow'ring weight, 
A sack of various merchandise, that best 
Home's need might satisfy, as smiling meet 
The wife admiring and the children blest, 
Around the op'ning store. His brow a reedy hat, 
His form a flaxen garb concealed — sandals his feet. 



164 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Reposed liis weight, beneath the shade he stood, 
As willow loosened from the driving winds. 
The shipwrecked thus : " O'er path and winding wood 
Not soft thy way has been, whose strength thus binds 
Such massive load. Nor these alone ; more rude 
The solar beam, that from his throne strong sends 
Apollo on the dusty road. His piercing line 
But few could bear, where droop the forest and the vine.' 



The traveller : " For others, not myself, 
I bear these solar ills. More strong than is 
Apollo's beam domestic love, that grief 
Nor toil can subjugate, but like the breeze 
Best heard in wintry nights, its plighted faith 
Firmest maintains, as round it dangers rise. 
The orient chill, damp eve, and day's protracted toil — 
Man feels not these, when blest with cheerful woman's smile." 



The shipwrecked thus : " More blest thy golden lot 
Than mine. Not with the beams on high I strive, 
Or with their evened strength, that rising hot 
From burning sands consume the feet. I strive 
With Fortune, Fate, and fickle gods, that late 
Have left me wrecked, but what you see — alive. 
Would that their subtle hate one step had farther gone, 
And that destroyed, which left is but one living thorn ! 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 165 

" Nor am I cheered, in this malignant fight, 
By woman's smile, or home's seraphic joys. 
These, too, are fled, and left to me a night 
Unjewelled by a star ! Ah, were there eyes, 
Such eyes as I have seen, to cast their light 
Upon my rayless path, new life would rise 

In this thrice-cofiined heart, that should the war renew ; 

Unfelt each deadly dart, with woman's love in view. 



" But this cold earth, that in its ample breast 
The maiden's smile and arm heroic holds, 
Entombs for me of life, what most and best 
I valued here. The little spot enfolds 
A willow tree, whose dangling locks undrest 
Sigh o'er the sainted dead. Oft thither rolls 
This heart its burdened grief, that with the dirgy winds 
Moans in the sable boughs, and weeping comfort finds. 



" Sacred the spot, as in the pilgrim's eye 
The cleft on Golgotha. No weeds of death 
We water more with tears, than thoughtlessly 
We plant in soil too rich round coffined earth. 
Dreary the loss beneath the brightest sky : 
But when too busy thought, with present grief 
The painful past connects in gloomy brotherhood. 
Thrice dies the stricken heart low welt'rinc^ in its blood. 



166 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

He ceased ; for words his struggling throat had made 
Too weak for utterance. The stranger thus : 
" Alas ! that from our lowly hearth, 'mid shade 
Of poverty, one straying ray should pass, 
To make on other cheek Hope's dawning fade ! 
As well to glow-worm's sickly beam, its face 
Some golden star might shroud in heaven's high canopy, 
As thou be envious thus at our low poverty. 



" But there are wounds so tender in the soul, 
That e'en a word may irritate. Perchance 
Thy heart, oft broke beneath the wheels that roll 
High arched o'er human bliss, but lacked a glance 
Its wounds within to stir from pole to pole. 
The Past, not I, who here have met thee once. 
Must be thy painful visitant. Forgive the word. 
That kind upon my lip, has thy deep sorrow stirred." 



" Not thee I herein blame," replied the Son 
Of Dominic, " Oft through the vernal vale, 
Where smile the purple flowers, doth creeping run 
Some mudded stream, that from its winding trail 
Sad death exhales upon the balmy air. So on 
Its serpent's way, from cell to gloomy cell, 

Through ruin of this heart, deep grief doth madly wind ; 

Unpearled, unwreathed, uncharmed, by smiling things 
around. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 167 

" Cold on your ear must fall such arctic words, 

Unused to sail as I, where all is ice. 

But he that leaves the tropic song of birds, 

Through frozen latitudes in vain to chase 

The pole, will often find his warmest words 

Fall snowy on a heart, that in its peace 
Has through all life inhaled meridian winds. 'Tis ill, 
And yet 'tis mine o'er joy such winter to distil." 



" But why conceal the fountains of thy grief. 
Or cast around thee thus but broken scum ? 
Dislodge the mass, that hard confined, as thief 
Steals all thy temple joys. Thou lackest room 
For bliss, that like the balmy air we breathe. 
Is but expelled, where fast imprisoned gloom 
Strong bolts each portal of the soul, that dark within. 
Each maddened thought may rave in undisputed pain. 



" Turn out these robbers of thy peace, that Joy 
Recrowned and Hope again within thy heart 
May gain ascendency. Beneath what sky 
First beamed on thee yon sun, whose after dart 
Hath chased thee gloomily ? Along this sea — 
Or where yon granite piles, like pillared art. 
Sustain the base of heaven — or, in what other clime, 
First fanned thy ruddy cheek, the passing wings of Time ? 



168 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" And why, thus lonely on a desert rock, 
High stand thy laboring feet ? Did vagrant choice^ 
Or cas'alty here turn thy manly look ? 
Hast thou some end in view, or do the joys 
Of nature wide from hill to pearling brook 
Entice thy mind ? Foreign thine accent, eyes. 
That not to Lusitan belong ; where on the brow 
Apollo stamps his gold in smoke of gods below." 



With doubt upon his eye, the shipwrecked thus : 
" Good the advice thy sagely tongue affords : 
Yet hard in leaky bark the wide abyss 
To stanch, whose buoyant wave in hordes 
Outruns the laboring hand. Whose timbers kiss 
The sea unbored, may chide the storm with words : 
But he who feels his vessel's rottenness, alarmed 
May well his leaden eye lift up, by songs uncharmed. 



" There are who trace life's backward path with joy, 
Their footprints left in vales Elysian all. 
For such, Time's early ruin and its sky 
Are decked with golden hues, that softly fall 
Upon the eye. Not thus the crooked way 
I trace, that with its ever-winding thrall 
'Mid tombs has passed, and lowly labyrinths of night, 
Where things malignant hiss and pits ensnare the feet. 



AMEEICA DISCO VEKED. 169 

" Where earth's high sons enshrine their brow 
Upon the ghissy wave, and with the stars 
Adorn each night their shaggy locks below — 
Where pride its battlements of castles rears 
Along the arching hills, afar that grow 
Dimly sublime — where Zephyr never sears 
The placid lake, or on the face of woman dims 
The rose — there first new-born were sung my natal hymns. 



" Youth's bounding heart entrapped by early love, 
Through rosy wreaths with cedars rich entwined, 
Pendent that crowned the fairy arch above. 
Love's fane I entered young. Within enshrined 
The incensed pan I held, that curling gave 
Its smoky fragrance to the Goddess kind. 
With dewy morn and in the shade of balmy eve 
My vow I brought, content her blessing to receive. 



" But like the bird, Love often builds her nest 
High-clifi"ed above the sea. Hard flung below. 
The trident strong I found not mildly prest 
As Love's soft wing. Their iron cycles throw 
Long years around my brow, while I the Priest 
Of Ocean serve. Deceived by wages low. 
The sea-god's rule I leave, and seek again the fane. 
Where ne'er I brought in youth one cheerful off'ring vain. 
8 



170 AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 

" All-changed the scene ! No altar now could find 
My vagrant eye, but myrtle grove instead 
And willow branch, that o'er the dead combined, 
Such canopy of gloom outstretched, as shade 
Of Hades seemed. Unwreathed the land, unvined, 
I scorned it more than sea, that lately had 
Life's summer-days to winter turned. My bark once more 
I trimmed : in vain — there lies its wreck along the shore ! 



" Thus crossed on land, on sea, beyond the gate 
Of life begun I stand, less born than they 
Who roll unmeaning eyes on work of fate. 
Back on the unborn past has been my way, 
Led on by guides that fiction, history late 
Or old, has ne'er described. Where living stay 
Blank purposes of God unvitalized with things, 
E'en there has seemed my life, that no frliition brings." 



" Too rash thy hasty words," the traveller. 

" Not born in vain, who 'neath the nightly tree 

Of arching sorrow, gain experience here. 

No lines so groove the heart indelibly, 

As on its softened face, of Wisdom fair 

The scribe, Afiiiction writes. Upon the sea 
Are pressed the shallow truths that ear of ease enjoys. 
What falls on furrowed hearts no hand of Time destroys. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 171 

" Look to the dome, that high o'er land and sea, 
Proud Nature hangs on pedestals unknown. 
'Tis not with golden liglit between we see 
Its high- hung lamps, but when the sober brown 
Of Night, balmed in the weeping dews, the eye 
Attracts to gaze. Then Thought erects its throne, 
And far beyond the narrow globe, that bounds by day 
Its eye, communes absorbed with heaven's high canopy. 

'• Affliction is the school in which we learn 
Philosophy. Strong selfishness outdone. 
And earth disrobed of transient glare, we turn 
Beneath the rod to golden truth alone. 
Then too are stirred the fires that deepest burn 
Within the soul. Few know, till abject thrown 
Upon themselves, their hidden strength. 'Tis then awake 
High thoughts and powers, themselves that mighty moun- 
tains make. 

" Judgest thou ill, that love and abject gold 
Are equal to the stores fair Wisdom fills ? 
What though in ease with shining sands untold 
Others have lived ? or, in the morning smiles 
Of woman basked. — Do their strong fingers hold 
A treasure more than thine 1 Her marble piles 
Fair Wisdom rears, not from the common rock, but mine 
Unwrought, untouched by hand, save what she makes divine. 



172 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" And if more sunk than most thou strikest low 
The rock, of richer grain the piece thy hand, 
Laborious long, triumphantly shall throw. 
The bloom that in the Spring enwreathes the land, 
Few dews produce, and few efface — But lo ! 
The diamond's brilliancy ! Hard formed in sand 
Through ages long. Time's latest wings it gems with light, 
Still radiant on the gloom where thrones and kingdoms set. 



" Perchance some high-arched goal near crowns the road 
Thou walkest in. Not always sees the end 
Blind man of his vicissitudes, but God, 
Whose prudent hand prepares, for what do send 
His purposes. Thy crooked way, so strewed 
With tears at first, in morning's light may end. 
In scheme of Grod what wayward lies to us is straight, 
And often stumbling feet stand next th' appointed gate." 



As boughs of some tall tree whose bosom fills 
The wind, that toss and heave beneath the freight 
They seem to glory in — so, struggling swells 
And falls his heart beneath the soothing weight 
Of balmed philosophy. Not more what tells 
The traveller he weighs, than unexpected sight 
Of one in rustic garb, who seemed of Wisdom's fane 
The priest. He sighed, he smiled, and thus his words began. 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 173 

" The root of that malignant tree, beneath 
Whose drops of bitter grief unhealed I stand 
In manhood's prime, was planted when a youth 
Philosophy I served, where through its sand 
Of gold sweet Tesin flows. At feet of Truth 
Reclined, in evening's beam I sat, where land 
Its granite heart, as man's in woman's sympathy. 
Bathes in the quiet stream. Beside me stood, with eye 



" Of burning flame, such mystic wight, as Time 
Not since has cast upon my gaze. This heart 
So calm before, so perished since, with flame 
Unquenchable he fired, whose inward smart 
On land and restless sea has been the same. 
Where on the lap of dewy eve his heart 
Hesperus leaves, he bade me seek far distant shores, 
Where Spring and fruited Summer shed unending stores. 



" Since then, as seeks with restless life the pole 
Amalfi's steel, this unmoored heart supreme 
Its purposes has turned, where loudly roll 
On western rocks unheard, great Ocean's theme. 
Each star that there has quenched its fiery soul. 
Each wind that thither blows, the restless beam 
Of this pale eye has watched — stirring beneath a fire. 
That chilling dews and rain could never make expire. 



174 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" This phantom chased, as boys the butterfly, 
That spreads in Spring its wing of varied gold 
O'er flowery lawns — less fortunate than they, 
I grasp, and grasp, but cannot firmly hold. 
Like them o'er pits I fall, but not the eye 
Like them of laughter raise, but heart so cold. 

That Winter in her snow feels not a sturdier chill. 

Thus fights my foolish hand Fate's high, unchanging will." 



" The error thine, perchance, who seekest soon 
What God designed thy fingers late should reap. 
Perchance, 'twas in thy seared leaf the boon 
Was promised, not when vernal locks do creep 
Thy temples down. If fev'rish youth should run 
Too fast on manhood's prime, e'en gained, must drop 
The crown from its too pu'rile arm. Long years between, 
It holds with firmer grasp the weight its efi"orts win. 



" Matured by time, by sad reverses trained 
Adversity to bear, retrim the bark. 
That now thy faded eye to evil chained 
Surveys all hopelessly. Thy life-time's mark 
Thy hand laborious still may gain, if planned 
Aright thy future path. No better ark 
For thee than Lusitan, where wise Felippa's son 
High royalty employs to trace the setting sun. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 175 

" Where Yincent rears his brow of pillared stone 
That on the sea looks frowningly, high stands 
In pride his nautic pile, within that's strown 
With charts of fresh discovery. All lands. 
That hear in distant latitudes the groan 
Of Ocean's bass he seeks, and sands 

Or blooming vales, unites to crown of Lusitan. 

His ear thy plea may hear and raise thy hopes again. 



" Or, mocked by him, in childhood's tender dew. 

There beats at Arvelo a heart more kind. 

Not yet her girlish eyes survey the blue 

Of that majestic arch among mankind. 

Her fame shall fill — but in their playful hue 

Laugh to the gilded toy, or idly bind 
The wreathy vine. When woman's radiant prime shall bloom 
Full-orbed upon her cheek, her angel hand the gloom, 



" Long settled on thy heart, shall dissipate. 
Woman first sinned, and to redeem the past, 
Now eyes with tender beam what princes hate. 
Soft as the pearly dew her love is cast 
Where sorrow weeps, or with his struggling fate 
Bound Gi-enius strives. Her tongue as angel's last 

Thy leaden ear shall joy with words that ne'er shall die ; 

Her sceptre point thee dauntless to the western sky." 



176 AMERICA DISCO VEEED. 

He said, and bounding on the air wide spread 
His seraph-wings. So from the grav'ly shore, 
Near eyed some fisherman, its arching head 
The snow-white crane exalts, that treads no more 
The fishy sea. With one wild scream of dread 
Upward it leaps, and at full length doth soar, 
A sheet of moving white in heaven's unchanging blue 
So passed from Cintra's top the Seraph as he flew. 



BOOK VIIL 

THE CHANaE. 

Marriage ! pure and blissful tie, that joins 
In one harmonious hearts, by love disposed 
To seek each other kind, as drop combines 
With pearly drop, that morning's eye composed 
Has left on arching blade, with narrow lines 
Between ; unblest till by one globe inclosed — 
Thy well-earned praise through ev'ry age have poets sung, 
Thy sweet delights entrance the aged and the young. 



Against thy golden yoke do none rebel, 
Till Vice the crystal heart hath entered pure, 
And on th' grave of virt'ous love its cit'del 
Hath raised — a beacon light to ruin sure. 
The innocent, the young for ever feel 
Thy healthful glow, while youthful charms allure 
Thy gentle reign, and oft thy crown by artifice 
Secure, which worlds to buy were mean and worthless price, 
8* 



178 AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 

All earth., all nature wide to nuptial bliss 

Invites. On petalled coucli Love balmy lies 

Within each tender flower, whose soft embrace 

Of pistils, stamens, incense sweet doth raise 

Around the nectared shrine. From heaven's high face. 

O'er plumes supreme, the manly eagle flies, 

'Mid barren rocks to build for love an airy home ; 

Unblest his daily wing till nightly there he come. 



The Greek thy brow with verdant roses crowned, 
Thy right-hand armed with torch of glowing light, 
Thy left with purple robe, as high-adorned 
Fair Hymen stood, perfection in his sight. 
Thy sceptre pure the warring Pvoman owned, 
And thy Thalassius worshipped on each night. 
When stood the jewelled bride, all angel in her look, 
To take the hand of him who wore her plighted lock. 



Yea more — thy blissful reign was then begun. 
When from the marble side of Adam came, 
By touch of God, fair Eve — creation's sun. 
Then rose new-born in human hearts that flame, 
That when life's fires are set, still shines alone ; 
Then, Goddess of the heart, of various name 
But ever one. Love reared her temple-walls below. 
Patroness of youth, asylum blest for human woe. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 179 

Swift years had fled when now the shipwrecked One, 
Through teachings kind of him who twice had come 
From heaven, o'er life's high road to lead him on 
Of fame, in his sunk heart a secret home 
For peace had found. Not now so lost, so lone 
He felt, as when misfortune's gloom 
Had quenched the beam of joy in ev'ry face he saw, 
And earth wide chaos seemed — no order, peace, or law. 



Life now to him was living life once more, 
Whose fountain from his heart fresh bubbling up, 
Wide o'er the desert of the soul did pour 
Diffusive joy. Oh, Spring of life, sweet Hope, 
Whose deep vitality, when frosts are o'er. 
Starts from the long-chilled earth with fruit to crop 
Our summer days ! — For ever in their snows would lie 
Our hearts, but for thy vernal call and vernal sky. 



Yet one hid wound within his heart remained, 
That not young Cupid gave, but stronger sire, 
Brave Mars, as aiming ev'ry nerve he strained 
To fix the arrow deep with quenchless fire. 
In youth's delighted hour this love-wound gained. 
Matured with age, nor would by time expire. 
So clings the branchy oak to vine whose root is cut. 
And on its living bosom lets it kindly rot. 



180 . AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

As he, who walks in wedlock 'mong the fair, 
Admires, but never loves a stranger's eye, 
So he who coffins in his heart the star 
Long set of some bewitching flame, no sigh 
Can raise when beauty, virtue, sweetness are 
Before his eye. Steeled at heart, he passes by 
The harvest of soft eyes, as huntsman in the chase 
O'erlooks in hot pursuit the flowers that kiss his face. 



Such was his fate, whose pierceless heart no maid 
In Lusitan could reach. Nor absent those 
Whose charms he might have felt, but for the shade 
Enshrined within. Nor Stoic he; but chose 
A steely heart to smiles, that else had made 
His heart all flame. Oh, wretched lot of woes ! 
Devotion of the Eremite — whose sickly vow 
Confines a buoyant heart, that would be happy now ! 



Where All-saints lifts its gilded dome on high, 
And on the silver wave of Tagus looks 
Composedly, Laspero's tiles the eye 
Of coming day salute. A man of books. 
The learned and the wise around him nigh 
Were oft convened. His time, in fruitless jokes 
Or scandals of the day, he scorned too wise to pass. 
Weighing each transient grain from life's too hasty glass. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 181 

What moments run to waste in most men's lives ! 
What moments more are armed with secret spears ! 
The bee, in its excursive wand'ring hives 
The nectar'd gum — the ant laborious bears 
The grain along : but man, if outward thrives 
His work, on his unvolumed heart calm hears 

The strokes of Time, unturned each lettered page ! Yea, 
worse, 

Into another's cup distils the bitter curse ! 

Better their lot whose evening lamps, like stars, 
Soft shine on Wisdom's page. Day's loaded car 
For them lifts up its nightly wheel, its fears 
And biting envies hushed, or heard afar. 
Them Yirtue guards — them smiling Wisdom bars 
From life's unnumbered ills. Refreshed as are 
The dewy blades ; by books, by friendship, sleep revived, 
Each morrow smiles on them, for they have doubly lived. 

But happier still each book'd Elysian hall. 
If Love as Wisdom smiles. The tender look. 
The snow-white hand and tones of Woman fall. 
Enchantment on the page. As laves the brook 
The fretted rock and on its breast doth roll 
Its roughnesses, so balmily doth take 

From man's pale brow of thought fair woman's hand the 
frown. 

Tipping with love as gold his high, imperial crown. 



182 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Sucli goddess in thy house, Laspero, dwelt. 
There are who deem their husband's lore 
A household plague ; and some who vainly melt 
To sate a guest from their superior store. 
Disgustful both, who never truly knelt 
At Wisdom's shrine. A prudent wife will soar 
Beside her husband's wing ; nor drag him from his flight, 
Nor leave him scorned behind on pinioned self-conceit. 



In lunar light fair Ina shone, too wise 
The sphere to arrogate, that Nature gives 
To man alone. Three sprightly babes her eyes 
Delighted with a mother's joy, who lives 
In each a tender life, as older trees 
Whose upward branch from ev'ry rootling thrives. 
Two at her side, and one on happy knee she'd hold. 
Charming with baby-song or some narration old. 



When laboring Day his heated crown would cool 
Far in the western sea, and stars retrimmed 
The heavens would light with sapphires bright, a stool 
Or couch worn Christopher would take, where seemed 
To him most joy — 'neath Ina's sweet control. 
Here in the airy court, or if were hymned 
Cold Winter's dirge, beside the household-fire he'd sit, 
Absorbed in Lasp'ro's lore, or Ina's pleasant wit. 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 183 

The home of man ! Grod ! if from this earth 
That name were blotted out, and household-walls 
As rotted fence should sink, beneath the breath 
Of wicked men — if hushed the tender calls 
Of wife and child on man's warm ear — not Death, 
In all his prison-cells and Hadean halls. 
Such mournful sight could show. Lost were the race, indeed. 
Or if preserved, like brutes, a wandering, cursed seed. 



Excuse the fire who reads, for daring hands 
Of late, the smoking sacrifice would take * 
From first God's altar blest ! But Ina stands, 
(And there are millions more,) terribly to make 
Such ruffians quail, beneath what Woman sends. 
Her scorn. Oh, sweet as mocking-birds, that wake 

The flowery South, is wedded woman's voice and eye. 

That as a sister calls to home's felicity ! 



He sat, and thus disturbed, would often think : 
" Had Death its marble pile not pressed too soon 
On one fair breast, I, too, could smile and wink 
As worshipped Laspero, But yet alone 
In manhood's prime, as when the verdant brink 
Of youth I trod, life's high and lifted sun 

I watch, as he who treads a wilderness of sand ! 

Ah, hard the lot of man unblest by woman's hand !" 



184 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

'Twas heard, bis thought iu Ina's watchful ear — 
For if clairvoyance there be, that mystic spell 
In love is woman's eye. She saw the tear 
Within that rolled, and unobtruded fell 
On Ella's grave. With soft and tender care 
As woman only feels for man, her skill 
She plies, the thorn from his pressed heart to 'radicate, 
By Fortune planted, or the sterner hand of Fate. 



He told th' unvarnished tale, as she replied : 
" Were she flive, thy beauteous Ella now. 
With heart elate and eye of tender pride. 
Not e'en St. Peter would condemn thy vow. 
But thou art clinging to an empty shade, 
A thought unclothed with flesh, since from the brow 
Of yon bright arch, where Seraphs strike their golden lyres. 
The spirit of thine Ella shines, in pure, seraphic fires. 



" Would her kind heart, if mortalized once more, 
Doom thee to drag long years for her in pain — 
Clothe thee with cypress, willow from the shore. 
Where but her ashes rest and earthly chain ? 
With such bright smile as filled her eye of yore, 
She'd kiss thy wrinkled lip, thy hand again 

Would press — and as she parted say — ' Forget the past ; 

Or if thou think on me, thine eye far upward cast.' " 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 185 

" As dew thy speech upon my heart," he said ; 
" But there are feelings that remain, when thought 
And logic are convinced. 'Tis true, a shade 
I worship ; but a shade, if often brought 
In contact with the mind, is strangely made 
Reality. Autumn's swift leaves have sought 
Full oft the ground, since her soft hand I pressed in mine, 
Yet still her eyes I see with beams almost divine. 



" This image wakes a glow half earthly, half 

Ethereal. Pleasure it gives, but pain 

Of deeper sting. With it I sometimes laugh, 

But oft'ner weep with it a bitter rain. 

I wish 'twere not ; and then more madly quaff 

The ideal joy. Thus held by iron chain 

Between two spells, alternately I die and live ; 

And yet for earth, for heaven, would never give 



" My dream away. 'Tis madness ; this I know 5 
But madness of the heart, that prisons up 
And loves to horde its treasury of woe. 
Were I the suff'rer lone, the bitter cup 
These lips should drink with hand that J^vouldn't let go 
The chalice from its grasp. But when my crop 
Is sheaffed in other hearts, as thine, my nerves relax, 
And nature shrinks within from such unmanly tax." 



186 AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 

" Thy burden would I bear with twice its weight 
Pressed on this willing heart, if hand or tongue 
Could lift it off from thee. Woman's delight 
To share another's woe, in me more strong 
The zeal for thee, whom learning, genius. Fate, 
Have made my frequent revery. If young 

Once more these eyes could see thee wholly made, 'twould be 

To latest life a spring of pure felicity. 



" Then, why not throw the spell from thy pressed heart 1 
If at some bubbling spring 'ucath arching shade, 
Thy lips had sweetly drunk in joy, and wert 
Thou thence, by call of Providence, far made 
On other lands to dwell ; would not the smart 
Of biting thirst, to other fountain, shade. 
Thee swift invite ? Among the dark-eyed Fair who light 
Our viny Lusitan, is there no smile to blight 



" The spectre from thy heart ? The thought may start 
Thy fixed philosophy ; but other cure 
For thee is none. As cloud to rain, as light 
To morn ; so woman's heart to man's. Be sure. 
No other bane '(gainst poison of thy heart 
All earth doth yield. And thou in thought demure, 
With viper on thy joy, must pass thy dragging days. 
Or dress thy crown again with woman's gathered bays." 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 187 

It went like lightning to liis heart. But now 
The stars were peopled on their lampy throne, 
And Midnight watching, from her sabie brow 
Turned oif the vail, 'mid dews and night-beams strown 
O'er land and wave, her images to view. 
They parted — but our thoughts do seldom own 
That fun'ral word — farewell — but mix and mix again, 
Ethereal in their track, when space is thrust between. 



Life of bachelors, how sadly plain 

Thy dwelling-place ! To me, not crying child. 
Or cloudy days of love, or calls in vain 

1 seek to satisfy of daughter mild 

Or playful boy — not sickness. Death's sad reign 
Around the married hearth, or aught that wild 
Man's fancy paints in home of love ; such picture draws, 
As that void gloom that nights thy cell of dust and straws. 



Such cell was his ; by poverty in part, 
And part by vacant negligence secured. 
O, if our single men would wisely part 
With half the means their wasteful hands have poured 
On vap'rish things ; in them the bounding heart 
Would oft'ner see, life's blissful dwelling floored 
With gilded drapery. But Vice her harvest gleans 
From those, whose hands for married love e'er lack the means ! 



188 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

On couch of straw he slept 'mid barren walls : 
His nautic charts — his work by day — were laid 
On table of old pine, his books on stalls. 
Hence had the labored thought, that often strayed 
O'er lands and distant seas, or 'mong the balls 
Of fire on high, its wild excursions made. 
Yea, in this cell, so lone, so poor, were struggling born, 
America, thy vales, and hills of snow-piled scorn ! 



He slept. But often when the silver lid 

Conceals the diamond ball, another eye 

Within unfolds its orb by daylight hid. 

There are who never dream, or only see 

Asleep the visions of the day. But sad, 

Or joyous in extreme, the mind its eye 
Far sends through darkness on, unthought-of things to view, 
And combinations makes of what it never knew. 



Beside him stood, as when on earth she was, 
His Ella in her love. In fairy land 
She seemed, whose arching boughs, and streams of bliss, 
And bloom unearthly to the sight, were fanned 
By winds of myrrh and balm. Her angel face 
He gazed upon, and sought her offered hand. 
And tried once more ujDon her silver lip to press 
The token of his love. In vain ; he could not kiss 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 189 

The shade though smiling in his view. He ceased. 

And thus his heart unburdened of its joy : 

" Is this inj Ella, she whom I have traced 

Long years unseeing with a watchful eye ! 

Love, to me more dear through life's dull waste 

Than aught these eyes have seen ; beneath what sky 
Hast thou reposed, unseen though sought so ardently ? 
They famed thee dead — but here thou art reality." 



The Shade replied : " Yes, I am dead, or what 
Men call the dead ; for here that frightful name 
Hath no significance. Ethereal wrought 
Their natures by Omnipotence, the same 
Unchanging through eternity, their lot 
Pure Spirits do maintain. The happy flame 
Of their delights are stars that never, never set, 
Kadiant through age with joy and ever-burning light. 



" With earthly things we have no sympathy, 
Save of the spirit-kind. The body left. 
With it we all inter that to the eye 
Was pleasing once. Not, that pure love, the gift 
Of God, thus dies. Its earthly part — the tie 
That binds in law, expires. The rest we lift 
As spiritual on high. Sedate this heavenly flame : 
Yet lives in us as you, unchangeably the same. 



190 AMERICA DISCOYEEED. 

" Yet not with us as j^ou the passion burns. 

Betwixt a thousand hearts it may be felt. 

'Tis marriage of the soul, whose good-will turns 

To all of kindred sort. No envy felt 

By us, when heart we left behind, fresh yearns 

For other arms. And when for us is spilt 
Yain tears, the motive we approve, but nob the flood, 
That shed beneath our feet, can do us here no good. 

" Warned of thy tears by messengers of Grod, 
I here have come to dry their fountains up. 
Not me thy Love below, it seemeth good. 
In heaven to grant. Yet soon shall new-winged Hope 
To its warm bosom bring another. Would 
That I could name ! But God doth wisely stop 
The mouth of prophecy, lest thy free-will by fate 
Confined, should be less free in its imperfect state. 

" And yet, I may reveal imperfectly 

The truth. When day with coming night shall blend, 

And through the mingling vail Diana high 

Her hazy image to the wave shall lend ; 

With pensive step and lost in reverie, 

Where Tagus joins the shore, thy feet shall wend 

Their way. Two Maids at evening-stroll shall meet thee 
there ; 

Pursue their track ; the taller shall become thy Fair. 



i 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 191 

" Meantime thy hand with nautic skill apply. 

Earth's form to calculate and lands afar. 

For thou art raised from lowly poverty, 

Not Love to worship as thine only star ; 

But, where proud Phoebus sinks behind the sea, 

Successfully to trace his glorious car. 
Yet ere thy hope shall reach its zenith-place on high, 
Thy various life must taste full oft adversity." 



He waked, and 'twas a vanished dream ! Thought, 
What troops of thee now marshalled on his brain ! 
Not till the God with rosy finger brought 
The laughing morn, his eyes were closed again. 
There are who have no faith in dreams, nor blot 
Nor gem life's opened page with things so vain. 
Yet Prophets dreamed — and on wide Fancy's airy wing, 
There still are visions brought that leave a joy or sting. 



Time journeyed onward, filling up its page 
With deeds and thoughts of men. 0, if would stop 
The unseen Chronicler, and but the age 
Of one brief day to human eye count up — 
What struggling hopes, and fears, and burning rage, 
What smiles and tears would crowd beneath the top 
Of that one page ! Uncounted, still they people up 
Man's transient hours ; for weal or woe, a mighty crop ! 



192 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

The maiden's heart ! What eye save One hath seen 
Within ! There, unfledged Love, beginning Hope, 
And Modesty, have made their home. 'Neath screen 
Of tender loveliness, their unreaped crop 
The Virtues sow in this fair soil for men. 
Propense to wed, yet like a bird on top 
Of some loved tree, that dreads to leave its wonted hold 
Through fear of archer's eye, or other wing more bold, 



She clings to home, till love subduing all, 
Reluctantly she cuts the natal tie. 
And quits her fathers for another's wall. 
Momentous step ! whose hidden destiny. 
With tears or smiles, fills up the hanging scroll 
Of woman's life ! If blest, Time's treasury 
Discloses nought so fair — if bound to worthless man — 
'Tis done — but better far than hers the infant's span ! 



The bell had rung for evening prayers ; and now 
Through lanes and streets, were wending in their train 
The lines of living multitudes. Below, 
What lovelier sight than thus to cool the brain, 
O'er-scorched by day, in evening's dewy vow ! 
But there are those, who crowd the high-arched fane 
Of godliness for other ends than prayer. To see. 
To hear, to love — these often draw to bended knee. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 193 

The temple's smoke, involving in its shroud 
The various freight, arose to bear on high 
What did not fall to earth, A mystic cloud. 
Alas ! it often rends ; its vapor in the sky, 
Its night below ! Yet they who pray, aloud 
Or secretly, are ever heard. The eye 
That truly weeps, sheds dew on blades that grow in heaven, 
And if below no fruit, the harvest will be given 



Above. All these had passed away, as now 

Felipa walked and Eunice alone. 

To quit the heated town, and 'neath the brow 

Of shaggy forests to inhale the tone 

Of Zeph'rous winds — to mark how upward grow 

The cypress and the pine — or deep commune 

At eve with blades and unwalled flowers — ah, this is life ! 

The antidote of care — to day-worn hearts relief. 



They strolled as two young lambs all silently. 
Of love they chiefly talked, and then would tell 
Their lover's name. Sacred the trust, that eye 
Of angel might not see ; and yet they'd dwell 
Full charmed upon the theme, and secretly 
"Would tell again ! So, in its fragile shell 
The butterfly unfolds its wing, that waits the time 
Its prison to escape, and chant its free-born hymn. 
9 



194 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

Patroness of love, Diana from the skies 
Woos with her beam their swelling hearts the more. 
Here fancy ranges, and a paradise 
Of bliss creates on man's all grav'ly shore. 
'Tis better thus ; for by illusion, eyes 
That would be bleached if clear, full sweetness pour 
On Life's oft wrinkled brow. The silver wave now lies 
Of Tagus at their feet, as bounding in surprise, 



One they discover mute upon its shore. 

He seemed a genius of the stars, whose eye 

Like telescope did only upward soar. 

But they disturbed his dream, as vividly 

The visions of his Ella rose to pour 

Eealities on him. They fled, as flee 
Young children when they find a serpent in their way. 
Bounding with frantic fear o'er grass and weeds away. 



His eye and feet their steps erratic trace, 
Till portal they had reached of Monis high. 
He marked the site, but from the wished-for place 
Abstained, lest rudeness should defeat the sigh 
That breathed new-born in him. O, if the face, 
Long years before, sick lovers could descry 
Of their own wives, what deep solicitudes would wake 
Too soon to tread Love's path, and their espoused take ! 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 195 

But Time with leaden foot reveals though late, 
What Fancy, Genius, Love could ne'er find out ; 
And when the time decreed arrives, his mate. 
As God to Adam brings. Unknown this lot, 
Man strives, nor woman less, by love, by hate, 
Themselves to extricate, or bind in knot 
Of destiny. In vain — though here the winds have shared 
More lovers' sighs and tears, than Mercy ever heard. 



Thoughts rose and fell as waves in his strong breast. 
The shade of Ella called, yet urged him on. 
But 'twas a dream ; and on a dream to rest 
So much of earth, of heaven, beseemed alone 
The maniac. But there are threads that haste 
Invisibly the heart, when doubts are strewn 
Along the lover's path. He would not go, and yet 
He goes, still onward goes, unconscious of his gait ! 



But higher from its mate, the folded leaf 
Of love I must not farther lift, save from 
Its sideling page one line to read — in grief 
Felipa loved another man ! Oh, doom 
Of female hearts, of men's ; to feel as thief 
Him coming, who was destined to become 
Ourselves ! And yet like silly vines young virgins tie, 
As men, their tendrils where, they only climb to die ! 



196 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

The night arrives ; and o'er that night what smiles, 
What tears are shed ! Long-cherished love its throb 
Now yields, and on the cheek of woman piles 
The saffron passions, that would seem to rob 
The skies. Man comes more sagely up, and foils 
His own to check another's fears. Yet throb 
Below deep thoughts high-written on his arching brow, 
Life's fate deducing from the present, laughing now. 



Youth smiles with bounding heart, and glad surveys 
The nuptial scene. Ah, there are eyes that steal. 
With sportive glance, the rose that blooming stays 
Upon another's cheek — and thoughts, that wheel 
In wild career, as children at their plays, 
Among unmarried hearts. Thus from one meal, 
God, Hymen feeds a score of hungry lips — The crumbs 
He scatters on the winds to make still other homes ! 



As mountain 'mid still lakes, the dome up-rears 
Of All-saints in the lunar ray. Within, 
The pendent chandelier from circling stars 
Full day emits upon the nightly scene. 
Two-eyed in recess far, the altar peers 
Beneath the lifted cross. In linen clean, 
As angels on a cloud, the choristers on high 
Before the deep-toned organ sit composedly. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 197 

The Priest appears. — Down to bis covered feet 
His garb descends bigb-breasted witb a cross. 
Index of law, and from Jebovab's seat 
Tbe messenger, revered be stands to toss 
Tbe fatal die ! Before bis lips tbey meet, 
Man's strength to wreatb witb woman's gentleness. 
As fir-tree be, as willow bending sbe tbe vow 
Receives, confirmed by God and music waking now. 



" As stars that gem the sky, 

As waves that kiss the shore, 
So be this nuptial tie 
All peaceful evermore. 

" But stars do westward set 
And waves dissolve in sea, 
Yet never may kind Heaven let 
Such changes pass o'er ye. 

" More bright each dewy morn 
More blest each happy eve. 
May life possess no thorn 
And Time no sorrows give. 

" Take her, strong man, and be 
The pride of her high hope. 
For parents anxiously 

To thee now yield her up. 



198 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Sigh of the morning's dawn, 
Tear of the weeping rose, 
She now on thee is thrown, 
To smile, and live, and doze. 

" May Heav'n your love unfold 
With gentle, watchful, hand, 
And when your hearts grow cold 
Resume, as now ye stand. 

" Sweet nuptial Tie, farewell. 
We charm you to repose. 
Blest dews descend and dwell 
Where ye all peaceful doze." 

As ocean's waves far on the distant shore 
Their murm'ring echo breathe, so dies on air, 
Along the quiet night the organ's roar. 
And now they leave, the stronger with the fair, 
The pillared gate of Fane they sought before. 
Felipa, through thy heart what currents are 

Of fevered passions, led by other hand away ! 

So sets some bashful star to find another day. 



BOOK IX. 

THE COJSTYENT. 

How man'ja morning sigh breathes its perfume 
On air, long ere the sultry sun its noon 
Has reached ! How man'yan infant's smile doth bloom 
To fade upon the eye, ere Time has run 
One cycle of its course ! Thus from the womb 
Man comes a thing of change, till Life has won 
Its far or nearer goal. How blest the hands sublime, 
That sow their harvests not on treach'rous shores of Time ! 



But there are things 'mid change that change them not ; 
High purposes of thought, pure virtue, faith, 
Humility. These stand the shock, nor blot, 
Nor blight receive from ravages of death. 
Parts of the soul divine, as round them rot 
Earth's vanities, they draw a fresher breath 
From life within. So peers the forest-oak on high, 
A hundred robes decayed beneath its tearless eye. 



200 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

He buried her ! As angel bears away 
The seraph from the pulseless heart, with hand 
Too soft to sear the faded rose that lay- 
On her cold cheek, he bore her to the land 
Where sleep our vanished joys ! Ah, sad that day 
To him, who loving weeps that in the sand 
Himself he cannot hide, where lies who oft has lain, 
Smiling as joyous May, beside his pillowed brain ! 



And when from clay-clad love we turn the feet, 
To press the steps of life, still warm with tread 
Of her we'll see no more — how mournful sweet 
Each relic of her hand — each needled thread, — 
Each ribbon — pin — or vacant chair that meet 
The eye ! Free tears flow out ; but on their tide 
Love casts a smile, that like a rainbow arches o'er 
The gulf of bitter grief, and calms its dirgeful roar. 



And if beside all these, her love has left 
In living form, one image of herself — 
One daughter, son, whose infant's eye bereft 
Smiles as did the mother. — Oh earth, oh pelf 
Of man, how vain thy store to buy that gift ! 
Fondly there dotes as on her living self 
The bleeding heart — and tries — all ceaseless tries in vain, 
From one resembling hue the whole to form again. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 201 

And when, as oft, to make a pageant fit 
For Death, our plans are crossed without, as die 
Within our joys, two-beaked, Despair would sit 
Upon the soul, and tort'ring out the sigh 
Half left within, — if courage did permit — 
Hope's essence would extract, and to the eye 

Leave nought beside ! Ah, strong the heart whose manly 
brow 

Receives the double stroke, nor yields its purpose now. 

'Tis noon. The horses of the sun snort fire 
On their ethereal track, and toss the head. 
And throw the mane before the whirling car 
Of Jove's careering Son. 'Twould seem the shade 
Of ether would consume, were not the power 
Of Phoebus on the bit. So 'long the tide 
'F Alpheus th' steeds of Thessaly were wont to rave 
When reached the goal ahead, and Greeks their shoutings 
gave. 

The vine hangs wrinkled on the hills, and 'neath 
The shade of cedar pants the sturdy ox. 
Each pebble and each grain of sand now breathe 
A fi'ry vapor up, combined that shocks 
The shrinking eye. Wrapt in the burning death 
Strong nature sighs, as when some giant rocks 
From side to side through fever on his restless couch — 
The heaven is brass ; 3^et earth could never drink too much. 
9* 



202 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Ye Rivers that do run 'twixt banks of clouds 
On high — what ashes all below, if ye, 
Like selfish man, within your floating shrouds 
Should wrap the needed treasure up. nor be 
To us munificent ! On crowds would crowds 
Of sighing men lift to your springs the eye. 

And for one balmy shower give estates away. 

Oh should we value less tho' yielded every day ! 



He leaves the boat, that round St. Vincent bore 
The giver of a world ! What fools are kings. 
As other men, who oft caress, adore 
The pedler of a box, or toy that brings 
To them delight, despised some richer store 
That Angels would content ! So, Judea flings 
Her Christ away for tinsel of an empty creed, 
And than be rich in Him prefers a banished seed ! 



But he is treasured on thy shore, O Spain, 
Now doomed to link with thee his destiny. 
Yet comes he poor as ever Fortune vain 
Beheld her beggared child. Anxious the eye 
At best, that from its friendly hills, and plain, 
And wonted smiles of men, abroad doth lie 
On strangers all — but he such change that undergoes 
With pence nor crumb in hand, is pressed by tenfold woes. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 203 

He bad one boy, bis sole attendant bere. 
'Tis pleasant to possess sucb property 
At common times. To see ourselves uprear 
Tbeir youtb in better forms, as snows supply 
Our locks witb wbite — to find our bopes appear 
On younger cbeeks — tbe labored destiny 
Of life by us forsook transferred to warmer bands — 
Our name not blotted out — our goods and purchased lands 



Our cbildren's wben we die — all tbis is joy. 
Nor can tbe nurs'ry's cares, or toils more late 
Of parents for tbeir young, sucb soul destroy 
Of music from witbin. E'en tbe idle prate 
And cry of cbildren, seen brigbt beneatb tbe sky 
Of gained futurity, are far more sweet 
To parent's eye and beart, tban cborused grove, or tbrill 
Of instruments combined, or brook, or murm'ring rill. 



But wben to Want's cold eye tbe tbirsting lip 
Turns up its famine for supply — wben tbat 
Sweet voice, tbat oft and merrily did skip 
Along tbe pleasured ear, more barsb, more flat, 
Now begs for bread in vain — like struggling sbip, 
Tbe beart turns leaky of its grief, and late 
Repents, tbat nature from ber opened store sbould grant 
Sucb pledge of love, to die witb unreplenisbed want. 



204: AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

But there are homes for charity, that like 
Diffusing water spreads itself to lakes, 
Whose laughing banks, the poor, the lost, the weak 
Invite in sympathy. Where Nature makes, 
Beyond Olispo's wall, a mound whose peak 
Uprises from the bristly pine, forsakes 

Each saint, St. Francis, at thy call, a frowning world ; 

And there o'er monkish rites fair Char'ty is unfurled. 



High walls of stone the chosen site surround, 
Upreared through sighing centuries. There mix 
The off'rings of the poor, the diamond crown 
Of Spanish kings, and pearls and robes that fix 
Nobility. Uniting all, all own 
Nor birth, nor place, but like soft rainbows mix 
Fraternally. So in thy crown, Judea's Guest, 
Combines the diff'ring work of faith absorbed and blest. 



In front, an iron gate with lifted cross 
Frowns on the stout of heart, whose knee disdains 
Prostration to the sacred sign. With face 
Of maiden tenderness beyond, 'twixt lanes 
Of whited gravel, spreads the matted grass, 
Whose robe of friendly green the fire detains. 
Reflected else in each consuming beam. So calms 
A heated eye the smile that round it sportive beams. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 205 

Dissected this to various shapes that seemed 

Geometry on sand. The circle, square, 

Elliptic curve and graceful segment teemed 

With waving life. These edge bright flowers that are 

In oblongs laid. With Protean smiles here beamed 

The bell-formed hyacinth, narcissus fair, 

The amaranth, whose cheek Time taints not with decay, 

The varied rose, the pink and lily of a day. 



Here, too, the peach, the orange and the pear 
Extend their summer arms with bending fruit, 
Each like a mother standing forth to share 
The bursting fulness of the pendent teat. 
Art lends her aid — as from the fountain clear 
Shoots like a spirit-arch the dewy jet. 
Misting the tender leaves of humbler plants below, 
And o'er the verdant green expanding Mercy's bow. 



There is a charm in nature that we feel. 
When weakness, or disgust, or poignant stings 
From other hearts, have made us lift the heel 
From man's society. Then softly rings 
Upon the inner ear sweet sounds, that steal 
'Long braded grass, or trembling leaves, or wings 
Of forests, brooks, or from the universal heart 
Of nature, sighing to the griefs that men impart. 



206 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

Such friendship blooms along the sombre track 
Of hooded eremites. And oft the eye, 
Averted from the maiden's lip and neck 
Of iv'ry loveliness, will fix its sigh 
On petals of the rose, and seek to deck 
Its half-quenched vision with the smiles, that lie 
Subdued on nature's unoffending cheek. Divine 
The feeling, and should live around each sacred shrine. 



He stood before the gate, a lofty form, 
His eye within, his child upon his arm. 
The Prior saw him, for his eyelid warm 
Quick watched the pilgrim's step, that from alarm 
Of foes, or biting poverty, or storm 
Of other ills, was used his sacred farm 
To seek. In gown of gray and lock of silver white, 
He treads the space between to meet him with delight. 



Ah, clumsy Friendship of the selfish world, 
"What broken legs thou walkest on, thy weight 
Of mountain lead to bear, where lies unfurled 
Beneath thine eye, some smitten child of fate ! 
As rusty hinges grate when idly whirled 
Of some great door, so screaking turn and grate 
Thy knee-joints on their curve cold charities to give. 
With hand that half withdraws what others half receive ! 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 207 

Not such Marcliena's love, whose ardent tongue 
The stranger thus addressed : " Come in, come in. 
Nor linger at the gate with child so young 
Beneath the ardent sun. Where'er have been 
Thy wearied feet, or to what creed belong 
Thy hands, these walls to thee are free. 'Tis man 
We honor with a human love, whate'er his clime, 
His country, speech, or transient hold on passing time." 



As stirs the rose's heart when dewy morn 
First sheds its balmy light, so leaped his soul 
That through the night had passed of human scorn. 
" Too kind thy words, though used to render whole 
The broken heart thou seem'st. No Spaniard born, 
I at thy gate but ask the feeble toll. 
Bread for this starving boy. Helva we nearly seek 
Where flows his kindred blood in woman's rosy cheek. 



" Where Tagus rolls from Spanish hills its tide 
Near to the Ocean's wave, we lived. Deep love, 
And deeper death, that land within this side 
Have fast interr'd, whose painful memories give 
Uncertain joy. Love's garden bloomed and died 
Beneath that sky, its exile I, its dove 
This unfledged boy. Belies of the change we tread your soil, 
Unknown the fates we court to bless or rudely spoil." 



208 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" To bless, I trust," the Prior with a smile. 
" Meantime this iron portal pass to rest 
Thy wearied limbs, where comes the nautic gale 
Kind Neptune fans from off his evening breast 
The panting lassitude to cool, that soil 
Too heated gives. This we enjoy more blest 
Than others in this clime, where nature stands to take 
The coming breath of waves that almost seem to speak." 



'Twixt beds of laughing flowers o'er grav'ly street, 
The door they enter of the massive pile. 
Four-square this lay with court between, where sweet 
'Neath canopy of stars, free monks would while 
Away their time each dewy eve, and greet 
Each other kind. By day the cloistered cell. 
Or chapel hid, the brotherhood might part ; but night 
With tender hand renewed the ever-welcome sight. 



There are who deem such brotherhoods a pest. 
Nor err they far, since man with man was made 
Socially t' mix, in ofl&ces that best 
His virtue might expand. The deepest shade. 
The highest wall, no vow, the human breast 
Of its humanity can rob. The blade 
Of piercing sin, deep sighs, and agonies of woe 
Live in the troubled thoughts, where'er we hide or go. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 209 

But chief here dies fair woman's love, or lives 
In torture of its life. The sex, the heart, 
The fancy still survive ; but that which gives 
Vitality of joy, and pulls the dart 
E'er wounding from within, and kindly hives 
In us as bees the honeyed store ; no art, 
No pensive faith from monkish walls or cell can draw. 
But dwells on living woman's tongue and smiling brow. 



Yet evil hath its good, and e'en the cell 
Of solemn monks, bright virtues have produced 
That Truth, unyielding through all time, must hail 
With high applause. Great natures when abused, 
Do oft beneath retain, as rusted steel. 
Their bright original. False judgments must 
The mind eclipse in part, yet round that central night, 
Hid virtue often throws, a more than earthly light. 



They dined. A simple meal, and chiefly made 
Of fruits. Such food best suits a sultry clime, 
Where parched by piercing heat, e'en in its bread 
The tongue petitions drink. High praise to Him, 
Life's Source, who juiciest fruit and widest shade 
Grives to the burning zone ; whose ardent flame 
Man's nature would exhaust, but for the copious dews 
Of morn, regaling fruits, and canopy of trees. 



210 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

But sweeter than tlie luscious peach e'en here, 
Or fragrant juice of oranges, the love 
That summers on the heart, and soft and fair 
Burdens each bough with charity. Nor grove, 
Nor farm of northern latitudes can bear 
Such harvests of the soul, such fruits of love. 
As Nature hordes 'round Southern hearts. Soon angry, proud, 
A wrong is quickly felt, an insult answered loud ; 



Yet open is the hand, the jarless door, 
The lib'ral purse, as in no other clime. 
Marchena's heart was of the zone — a floor 
Of full-riped grain — an orchard with each limb 
Recumbent of its load. Thus on did pour 
His words, that to the stranger's ear now seem 
^olian sounds. " Hard fates, perchance, have borne you here 
And this your loving child, taught in the bud to bear 



Affliction's load. Unbound by solemn vow 

To penury, thou seem'st, but in thy look 

Of loftiness, one of the sect whose brow 

Devotion scales with misery. As book 

Of tattered leaf thy robe, as flaky snow 

On brow of spring delayed, thy whit'ning lock. 
Why on a form Adonian once have years thus piled 
Their weight ; or Time with hasty hand such temples soiled? 



AMEKIOA DISCOVERED. 211 

"As cbild to parent's ear unchecked, disclose 
Thy griefs upon this heart, whose sympathy 
Is thine, tho' hand may prove too weak to close 
The wound that bleeds within." With one deep sigh 
He answered thus : " Causes there are of woes 
Beside oppressing time. The steadfast eye 
That from the present looks, absorbed in things remote, 
Oft looks, and looks, until its outward vestments rot. 



" This madness hath philosophers, and all 
Who labor for the common weal. Themselves 
All blotted out, they seek some mighty pall 
From others to remove, or vacant shelves 
To load from their own stores. This honored scroll 
Not yet I fill, whose ardent hopes by halves 
Have passed away. Yet struggles, agonized below, 
This high-wrought soul in birth of what it ne^er lets go. 



" In early life (divine or human needs 
Not here be told), one thought its empire made 
In this too ardent breast. That thought, as breeds 
The hasty hare, within has often laid 
Its progeny. These struggling loves the weeds 
Produce, that now to thee and others shade 
The roses of my life. On land, or on the restless sea, 
'Twere easy to provide for this one child and me. 



212 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" But as who walks in nightly dream I tread 
The grosser soil, absorbed in themes remote 
From vulgar eyes. Where sinking sunsets shed 
Their parting smiles, that o'er the ocean float 
As love on woman's cheek, these eyes, this head 
Long years have lived, striving with truth to dot 
That boundless sea. If round our earth, as sages say, 
Then, why not India seek in that less dang'rous way ? 



" To prove this truth to my own mind by strong 
And varied argument, and others make 
Disciples to my creed, has been — ah, long — 
My studious toil. There tend my thoughts awake, 
And there, when Fancy brings her airy throng 
Around the dreamy brain, deep-stirred they take 
Unquiet rest. This chaos moving from within. 
Has bleached my locks and make my cheek and temples thin." 



Marchena gazed, as he would gaze, who eyes 
An angel at his board. Of faith sincere. 
The world e'en now to him appeared of size 
Too great for piety. Its gorgeous sphere 
Of seas and piled-up hills he would comprise 
In one small plat, whence Hope might upward rear 
Her ladder to the skies. Yet friendship oft will yield 
Indulgence to a guest, nor lift as hero shield 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 213 

'Gainst adverse thoughts expressed. " New as thine eye 
Thy words unheard before ; yet not despised 
On that account. If not philosophy. 
Long years have taught, that truth is not comprised 
In limits of one brain. Who sails the sea 
And deep communion hath with stars, surprised. 
May often wonders see, that eye on land confined 
Ne'er guessed, ne'er argued, ne'er felt to cross the mind. 



" To me, less taught in things so deep, impart 
The reasons of thy creed, that to the eye 
Appears belligerent. Earth's varied chart 
From childhood I have learned, is flat as lie 
These grav'ly walks. In mighty race th' char'ot 
Of the sun, through orb enlarged along the sky, 
And moon and stars their various ministry aiford, 
Obsequious all to Earth, as in their centre lord. 



" Oft have I traced God's care herein and love 
To insects of a day, that temples up 
For man, unmindful of the boon, such grove 
Of stellar lights, and o'er his head doth prop 
The sun and nightly moon. Yet, not above 
Such themes of piety my thoughts, (that stop, 

Alas, too soon in truth's pursuit,) have upward soared ; 

Anxious the more am I to have such things explored." 



214 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

" If not discourse that illy suits too long 
The brief repast of summer's medial board, 
Condensed I'll hasty touch for thee the throng 
Of arguments, that to the mind afford 
Contingence of the truth. The problem strong 
Doubt's lever that shall turn by deed, not word, 
Futurity must solve, when rides the gallant ship, 
Where suns and dewy stars each coming evening drop. 



" Yet proofs that image forth the truth are near 
At hand. By chance, decree, or inward force, 
Free matter unrestrained assumes the sphere. 
When wearied of her tears, Night sheds on grass 
And leaves her matin pearls, globous and fair 
They hang, transfused with solar dies that pierce 
The pendent orb refracted from its curve. We see. 
How oft a thousand globes on one fresh morning's tree ! 



" But for the current air, whose ceaseless fan 
Combustion keeps alive, each restless flame 
Around the wick that burns, or where the clan 
Domestic meets, its fiery streaks would cram 
To one red globe. The air — the breath of man — 
Convulsive in its strength, or like a lamb 
Soft bounding o'er the sea, moves in a globous mass- 
As seen its form in sails distended on that pass. 



AMEKICA DISCOVEEED. 215 

" Nor earth in lier more steadfast mould denies 
The law, but in all valleys, hills and trees 
Assumes the globular. The last, with eyes 
Of wonder contemplate, as on with ease 
Each shooting limb its place assumes, and tries 
Its parent to adorn with globous wreaths — 
Involved the tender boughs, and twigs, and leaves, to one 
Rich robe of rounded green ! What more has Art e'er done? 



" And when from terrene matter we ascend 
To things on high, the crooked, irregular 
And flat, appear no more. In what all blend — 
The Dome, earth's canopy supreme, how far 
Above all art globicular ! Can find 
No eye in that empyrean arch one scar, 
Or twisted flaw distended from the rest, that breaks 
Sphericity. From where on heads of pine it makes, 



Or on the shaking wave, its base, to where 
All curves unite in centre of the whole. 
Arch lives in pearly arch connate, and star 
With jewelled star combines to form one sole 
For heaven, one crystal crown for earth. Nor are 
The parts dissimilar. At dawn, or goal 
Of high meridian, or at its evening gate. 
One ball of globous fire the sun, unchanged as great. 



216 AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 

Fair Dian too her side with milder zone 
Begirds, thick-set with jewels of the night, 
That like all other queens capricious fash'on 
Serves, and drops or higher wears her maid'n light ; 
Yet when we see full-rayed her perfect crown, 
Unchanged her look, that ball of silver bright 
Seems in the nightly sky. Nor less globicular 
The stars — each, like an angel's eye, one burning sphere. 



" Thus through all earth, all space free matter forms 
The globular. The cause remote or last 
Weak reason may not scan, e'er lost in storms 
Too potent for its wing, when farther prest 
Its search than things submitted to its arms. 
Perhaps the globe, concentric, one, is best 
The image of the Deity ; or such best serves 
The Architect, strongly to prop all things with curves. 



" Plain inf'rence hence (and this concerns us most) 
That Earth is round, not flat, as to the eye 
Her champaigns seem. In her deep bosom lost. 
Rotundity we no more grasp, than fly 
Or ant along the mountain's side, the vast 
High cone on which it dwells. Yet on the sea, 
Half kens the sailor's eye the curve, that leaves his view, 
Where far the wave is joined with heaven's seraphic blue. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 217 

" How stand erect on earth its multitude 
Of things, nor seem inclined, nor fall propense 
Along its curvy plain, is understood 
Perhaps by none. Nor doth our span of sense 
Embrace, how strangely in the hands of God 
Ptevolve the sun, the moon, the stars, far hence 
That seem on no foundations laid, yet keep unchanged 
Their circuits through all time, as when at first arranged. 



" Facts we determine, not their cause, that lies 
Perceived by Deity alone. These weighed 
With careful hand, we find in glad surprise 
One principle in all — one truth that's laid 
In our philosophy. Thus Wisdom tries 
By slow, yet steadfast steps her temple's head 
To lift among the stars — examined, weighed each stone, 
That forms high-polished all, her more than crystal throne." 



With such discourse repaid Liguria's son 
His gen'rous host. Not till the Sun his car 
Had peaceful dropt o'er Vincent's wave, his throne 
Behesting to the dews and balmy air 
Of Night, relaxed his fluent speech. — Nor then; 
Resumed amid the silent walks and cheer 
Of flowers, that in the cool of eve seemed paradise 
Below, unheard as love, as eloquent of sighs. 
10 



218 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" But who shall me equip with fleet and men 
For that far shore," continued now the Son 
Of Dominic 2 '• First, in my pride, the plan 
I laid before the Free of my own Town. 
Despised, the theme I pressed on Lusitan 
Through years of doubtful hope. The British crown 
The brother of my heart now seeks, Bartholomew — 
His fate unknown — his mission and his absent crew. 



" Lone on your soil as orphan of the world 
I'm cast, unfriended, 'patronized, and poor. 
Yet rich the soul within, that tost and whirled. 
Beneath its treasury of good, some floor 
Desires, on which to lay its harvests toiled 
Through many a sun. Perhaps, where yields the Moor 
To Christian sabres may be found, some one great soul, 
To patronize the scheme, and re-exalt Earth's pole." 



With eye collecting on its orb the blaze 
Of thought intense, and look as angel's kind, 
Marchena thus — " The Queen, above all praise 
Beloved, is such great soul. Her tender mind 
These hands directed, when a child the maze 
Of time first opened on her view. More kind 
No other heart than hers — more studious of the general weal, 
More prompt to feel distress — to hear a wise appeal. 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 219 

" Our king, long years absorbed in war, may see 

No wisdom in thy scheme, and as the rest 

Complacently may smile on it and thee, 

Affording still no aid. But in the breast 

Of Isabel, more kind, more tender, free, 

'Twill wake desire that to the unknown West 
May lead thee on. Where Cordova exalts her spires 
Above the Boetian wave, she holds 'mid dazzling fires 



" Of royalty her court. There haste to spread 
Thy bold conjecture on her ear, unawed 
By courtiers of high name, by inward dread 
Of failure to thy plea, or aught that would 
Defeat thine aim. Talv'ra I know, late made 
Adviser to the throne. Through him, thy guide 

Advised by me, audience thou'lt gain to Royalty ; 

Despised no more thy scheme through his strong ministry. 



" Thy child, the image of thyself, so fair. 
Repose on us. As bone of bone within 
This frame, and blood from my own blood most dear, 
For thee, for him, I'll press him as a son 
To this warm heart. No want, no uttered fear 
In him these eyes shall overlook, till done 
Thy ministry of good, thy joyous lips once more, 
On his shall press the love they oft have pressed before." 



220 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

'Tis night. The stars renew their vigilance 
On high, and silent dews now stealing down 
The day-parched lips of flowers and waking grass, 
Refresh each petal, blade, to meet the crown 
Consuming of to-morrow's sun. Their wants 
On Providence reposed, the Father, Son, 
Marchena and the monks resink to balmy sleep, 
Earth's cares forgot, till new-born light shall o'er them creep. 



Oh, Sleep — sweet Sleep — oblivion of the past. 
And bow high-arched on dark to-morrow's gloom — 
How soft thy steps of tender down are prest 
On senses of the soul ! Limb sinks by limb 
Through touch of thee composed, till eye and breast 
Descend full-charmed to silence of the tomb — 
Sweet tomb, that yields refreshed to day's returning beams, 
What heavy sank at night from life's corroding themes. 



BOOK X 



THE COUET 



Oh hapless lot is theirs, whose thoughts too great 
For common minds, live in themselves alone — 
Yet struggling live, as some impulsive fate 
E'er goads to higher life each smothered groan, 
That checked within behind some bolted gate, 
Still pants to reach its self-created throne ! 
Pale Fear deep-marked sits high above each arching brow, 
And Grenius scorns within the yoke that binds it now. 



Yet well have known this bitter fate unteared. 
Who most of fame have high on earth enjoyed. 
Their wide-laid schemes by other men unshared, 
From side to side have their own souls annoyed. 
Till labored into life have vast appeared. 
What men untaught before would have destroyed ! 
So groaned thy noble heart within, Columbus Great, 
While mocked thy bold design at Learning's haughty gate. 



222 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

And so ye inward writhe, ye gifted Poor, 

Whose eagle wings ungemmed by silver rays. 

Lie spurned in dust upon the filthy floor 

Of some rude heart, that only gold obeys. 

Oh burning shame, America, and more, 

That 'neath thy Freedom's stars that proudly blaze, 

Grenius divine should crouch at common printer's door. 

Begging his smile to mount its lofty car and soar. 



Shake ofi" thy dust, Maecenas, long entombed, 
The Bard to rest upon thy purple arm 
Once more. Eeturn to earth, too early doomed 
To spend on ancient song alone thy charm. 
Thee loud would hail each humble swan well-plumed, 
Who longs to rise but fears the threat'ning storm. 
Oh, come, thou friend of Phoebus and the Sacred Nine, 
To raise our fallen harp and bless each magic line ! 



Long days of doubt had passed before the ear 
Of Majesty he reached. Thus Fate designed. 
That his unrivalled heart should future share 
Alone, the fame that this great work entwined. 
Who long delays in Virtue's cause do bear 
From men, themselves unchanged, shall high enshrined 
Above the vulgar herd remain, their temples crowned 
With light — their praises sung to Time's far-distant bound. 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 223 

These fled, tlie day auspicious came desired, 
When Royalty should hear his humble plea. 
Large was the courtly hall and richly fired 
With gems, whose soft and mingled brilliancy 
Outshone the stars, by all beheld admired. 
On either wall high-hung triumphantly. 
Were Crescent flags, that Christian arms had nobly won 
From Moorish towns, or plucked from Moorish hands undone. 



High on a throne of crimson dye, proud sat 
The noble Ferdinand. His forehead wide, 
His eye of piercing glance in hurried gait, 
Darted like lightnings winged from side to side. 
Lofty his look that well the inward state 
Of his high soul, sagacity and pride. 
Expressed ; with iron nerve the war-horse wild to rein, 
Or guide the storm of war unbridled on the plain. 



Beside, his royal spouse — kind Isabel. 
From Calpe to the distant Alp none born 
More fair than she. In form proportioned well, 
Her look benignant seemed as roseate Morn 
Fresh from her dewy couch, that soft doth steal 
O'er hill and balmy vale. Uncurled by scorn 
Her lip, whose ruby blush 'mid bed of snow expressed. 
The purity and love of her seraphic breast. 



224 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Around were noble knights, whose arms of steel 
The sword had often bathed in Moslem blood. 
Each armored full from crown to distant heel, 
Like lion roused before his Sovereigns stood. 
Rodrigo first, whose mountain storm did feel 
Alhama strong, high-built 'mid gray rocks rude. 
Bold Cabra next, whose prudent skill Lucena knew, 
As for his throne and life Abdallah proud did sue. 



Nor these alone. In robes of purple clad. 
High bishops sat, proud counsellors of war. 
Each breast a brilliant cross, each rev'rend head 
A mitre wore. Before the Queen, and near 
Mendoza first, whose wisdom peerless shed 
On royal plans full light, and arm the care 
Of state sustained. Talv'ra next and G-eraldine, 
Who kept the heart and young of Spain's illustrious Queen. 



'Mid these erect the Grenoese, whose eye 
Escaped like star but late from gloomy cloud, 
Its joyous radiance poured on Eoyalty. 
With manly tones, elastic, mellow, loud. 
He thus began : " Most Gracious Princes, I, 
For audience gained like this may well be proud 
Especially, when noble knights recase their swords, 
To hang in brief suspense upon a stranger's words. 



AMERICA DISCOVEEED. 225 

" Nor stand I here, new counsellor of war, 
Some untried plot t' advise against the foe — 
Some fortress undefended, some new star 
Of hope to specify. These better know. 
Who long have tried in glitt'ring steel, the car 
Of Moslem fight. My mission is to show 
A theme of peace, accordant in your minds, I fear. 
Too little with the martial state that glitters here. 



" Yet Peace and righteous War one end design 
At last — the gen'ral good. Not distant then 
My work from theirs, who o'er the bloody plain. 
Proud chase the standards and the men 
Of adverse war. Where stars each eve decline 
Beyond the western sea, new morned again 
To rise in nightly day — absorbed my thoughts have long, 
Through fear and fickle hope, conjectures built now strong 



" Of earth's rotundity. Let not the thought 
Your Majesties offend, because denied 
By vigilance of all. But dim and short 
The view, that from each centre takes the lid. 
With which we view earth's plane or restless port. 
Beyond that circle, changing e'er, is hid 
How oft, a larger, lovelier scene, than meets within 
The eye ! Why then no shore where ships have never been? 
10* 



226 • AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Nor think such judgment rash. Grreat sages read 
With care, their thoughts have been improved by light 
Of new philosophy, whose beams have shed 
Fresh rays on this our dwelling-place, and night 
And day have joined in bands, whose distant head 
Is in yon glowing arch — the solar Light. 
Revolving e'er, earth's half-turned wheel brings on the day, 
Night next we have when turned that wheel the other way. 



" Not flat, but round must then our world be made, 
To whose attractive centre tends what lies 
Its surface o'er. Thus all things firmly stayed 
Upon itself, beneath its arching skies 
It rolls, in light half-robed, half-robed in shade. 
His steadfast prow due west who therefore plies, 
Must reach in time the coast of oriental Ind, 
Unless between some golden shore he chance to find. 



" That untried sea to pass, I stand me here • 

Petitioning your grace, prepared for all 
That Fate may send, success, remorse, despair. 
If on some sea remote my ship shall fall 
O'orwhelmed by storms, and life forsake me there, 
'Twill be a paltry price ; nor should appal 
The G-reat, who on the chance of War's unknown decree 
Adventure all — their crowns, their lives, and majesty. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 227 

"But if success the enterprise shall crown, 
What good untold shall bless your regal state ! 
Where Mangi spreads its coast, and proud the Khan 
Of Cathay lives in palaces of plate — 
Cambalu, Quinsai, and the rich Cipan', 
The spicy Isles, and diamond mines not yet 
To Europe known — all these their treasures full shall pour, 
Through years unending, on your land and princely floor. 



" Nor less would Fame her wreath of fadeless green 
Bind on your temples just, whose radiant beam 
To distant times would reach, and unborn men 
Inspire, with sense of your exalted claim 
To their high praise. Nor to the Christian mean 
Must be the thought, that to some distant clime, 
O'er paths untrod by man before, he thus may send 
His own pure faith to bless some new discovered land. 



" If then your Majesties approve, what here 
Too plain I dress in accents rude perchance 
To Spanish ears, ordain what part ye'll bear 
Of men and ships for that far Occidence. 
The rest bold hearts and mine will volunteer. 
Ready to risk on Fortune's wheel what chance 
Or nature gives. For me, I all with life depose. 
Staking the end by ev'ry drop that in me flows." 



228 AMERICA DISCOVEEED. 

He sat. Amazement like a mist fell on 
The faces of brave knights, who paused to know 
Each other's minds. On some deep thought now shone 
Pre-eminent — keen ridicule the brow 
Of others clothed. Kinder the Queen, whose throne 
Was destined to protect what men below 
Despised, The theme she much admired, the man far more. 
His noble mien, his eloquence, his deep-read lore. 

To Ferdinand, as most, in deep suspense. 
She uttered thus, and he for her the will 
Of Majesty: "Such theme the higher sense 
Of scholars doth require, whose cautious skill 
Must trace its various parts, and last events 
From furnished data draw. Sal'manca will 
Such doubts resolve ; where soon shall be convened wise men, 
Thy thoughts to weigh, and where thou may'st be heard 



He said ; as on the high winds rose the blast 
Of war's shrill trump, that to his bloody post 
Each soldier called. His helmet raised in haste, 
On goes each knight to join the moving host. 
O'er banner, banner peers, each bloodless cast 
Upon the breeze; toward Mochin turned the most. 

Proud rides the King, and near, his more than worshipped 
Queen, 

To change for peaceful arts war's wild, terrific scene. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 229 

Slow turns the leaden wheel of Time through blood 
And purple smoke, that now the Christian flag, 
The Moslem next afflicts. War's clarion rude 
Loud sounds o'er Loja's plain and the high crag 
Of Axarqua, where proud El Zagal stood, 
The Christian lines to chase, that slowly drag 
Their broken lengths along, 'mid rocks and clifted steeps, 
As on them, maddened into rage, the Moslem leaps. 



Yet boast not loud ye turbaned Hosts in pride ; 
Brave Cabra comes, the Christians' champion fast. 
Up the steep rock his charger now doth glide 
As eagle in the air : behind are pressed 
His men in flying ranks, that to the tide 
Of Xaniel drive Boabdil's hosts, oppressed 
By furious charge. Here found thy heart, Atar bold, 
Its tomb, unawed by Christian steel, unbribed by gold. 



Thus rose or fell on War's revolving steel 
The Cross or Crescent proud, till with her smile 
Fair Isabel awaked of shouts the peal. 
Where roared the cannon loud against the pile 
Of time, wide placed around high Mal'ga's heel. 
By magic touched, each knight with dauntless zeal 
Fought like a Cyclops strong, till broke stern Zeli's arm. 
His flag and creed he struck to woman's potent charm. 



230 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

One fortress still its moon holds up on high — 
Granada proud. Her feet in Xenil's tide, 
Her head on Nevida, the heaving sigh 
Of death she breathed, as some despairing bride 
That on the breast of Love doth palely lie. 
But cloudy rocks, nor Allah vast and wide, 
Relief afford, as from her gate Abdallah weeps. 
And high ascends the Cross Alhambra's lofty steeps. 



Thus swept stern War from Spanish hills and towns, 
The Moslem blood and faith. Eight centuries 
Had stood brave Tarik's work, whose piercing wounds 
First felt at Xeres Christian men. Thus plies 
Her equal rule Justice enthroned, and bounds 
With retribution late, the tears and sighs 
Oppression early makes. At Gebel now the Moor, 
The water on his foot, his eye on Africk's shore ! 



Unheard in War's loud din, unnoticed in 
Its crowd, Genoa's Sage had passed obscure 
The tedious months. One theme by day, and when 
The stars were vigilant, absorbed demure 
His thoughts. A captured town perchance, or keen 
Some rushing charge upon the foe, might clear 
Away the dream ; but soon with vigor new 'twould come 
His brain to repossess — its own, and only home. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 231 

The time arrives. On Tonnes' banks once joined 
By Roman arch, revered for age arise 
The turrets of the Wise. Not then was found 
As since Minerva's Halls beneath all skies, 
Her doors wide open hung. Yet more profound 
The awe, that from her aged shrine the eyes 
Oppressed with reverence. Within these classic cells 
As gods the Learned lived — their voice without appeals. 



St. Stephen's was the place, where high in fame 
Proud Scholars meet, to hear the simple tale 
Of him, whose ungowned arm did illy seem 
Bright omen of a brain, that e'er the veil 
Minerva wears had reached. 'Twas night — a gleam 
From one lone lamp, shedding its lustre frail 
On walls of massive gray, the scene illumined dim : 
In front a table stood, a Bible on its rim. 



Around on seats revered demurely sat 

The Sages wise, whose Delphic voice expressed, 
The Throne deters, or hastens in its flight. 
Arrayed in sombre gown each hand now pressed 
A cross, or dingy parchment held that late 
Had been perused. Erect and calm addressed 
Them thus the Genoese : " To God, to you, to all, 
I'm grateful, Friends, to stand within this classic wall. 



232 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Brawny this arm, yet drauk my youthful lip 
Once at this stream. Too small that partial draught, 
Yet has it filled my mind, as restless ship, 
With cargo of great thoughts, that stirring oft 
Make earth a pilgrimage indeed. This heap 
Of classic lore warm hails my heart, abaft 
Too often driven by ignorance of men. Your minds 
Can better judge — where Truth and wiser Keason reigns. 



" That spherical the earth, Philosophy 
Maintains against the vulgar creed. Can yon 
High orbs, that fill in multitudes the sky. 
Obeisance pay to Earth, that from their throne. 
Far looking down the airy void, they see 
Perchance no larger than to us is known 
Each evening's star 1 The simpler truth Reason prefers. 
That sense denied, all space is filled with rolling spheres. 



" How round the Sun, the moon, each twinkling star, 
To e'en a peasant's gaze ! Because no eye 
Hath reached around, or ship, or man so far 
Hath gone, shall we rotundity deny 
The earth, exception to the rest ? Why are 
Our souls invis'ble, but to teach there lie 
Beyond our human sense, great truths, unseen, unknown. 
To Reason pure addressed, by Reason only known ? 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 233 

"Nor is the the'ry new, conjectured long- 
By Sages of the Grreek and Roman School. 
It Pliny taught ; the Stagyrite, whom wrong 
But few admit. Wise Ptolemy the whole 
Of earth globicular divides among 
The hours that fill the day ; each hourly scroll 
To fixed degrees, Of these 'twixt Thinoe and Cape Verde 
The most are found — the fewest lie 'twixt us and Ind. 



" Nor less experience hath confirmed of late, 
What sages argued a priori first. 
Marco of Venice, at the orient gate 
Of morn, new lands descried afar that erst 
Had ne'er been known. The Portugese how late 
The Azores have bound to Europe's dust ! 
Each sailor too, that tracks more far the western wave, 
Returns to tell of isles that distant waters lave. 



" Far off from Vincent on the distant sea, 
Vicenti found of Lusitan afloat 
A cylinder of wood, that foreignly 
Was carved. Pedro the like in diff'rent route 
Obtained at Porto Sant'. Trees too there be 
Resembling nought on Europe's coast, but brought 
By storms from other lands. And still the truth more plain 
To make, at Flores came ashore two western men ! 



234 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

" All these concur one point invincible 
To prove — not wide the sea between that parts 
Th' Orient from th' Occident. How sail 
Proud ships that sea, is point that only starts 
The vanity of human lore. No hill, 
Or sea abrupt, or pole reversed, the charts 
Of Europe, Asia, thus far note. Nor need we guess 
Such monsters to exist in ocean's wilderness. 



*• If then as me your minds such arguments 

Convince, announce the same to Majesty, 

That only waits your oracle its sense 

EflS.ciently to give. On you must lie. 

And these your aged walls, the good far hence 

Or ill, Posterity receives, not I. 
Weigh well these thoughts — nor from your learned brows 

avert, 
The crown immortal now that doth your temples court." 

He sat : Hiraldo rose, through Europe famed 
For various lore. " Long years have taught me well, 
That doctrine 'cause 'tis new, should not be blamed, 
On that account. Gray hairs once darkly fell 
Around the brows of youth. The child full framed 
Becomes the man — the man the sage, when well 
His time improved. 'Gainst novelty I argue not, 
But must oppose what casts on Truth Divine a blot. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 235 

" Philosophy, if found on earth must all 
Agree, the Scripture doth contain. Here know 
We first earth's origin, supreme the will 
Of Him, who dark from chaos brought what now 
Of beauty, order doth all nature fill. 
Read then that book ; and where doth Moses show, 
Or prophets high inspired, that Earth is one round ball 
Revolving in free space — a globe at random all ! 



" The humblest mind that thence its doctrine draws, 
Must central place the Earth — a mighty plain — 
Illumined by the lights of heaven, whose laws 
Of motion, order, we can ne'er explain. 
Perhaps escaped from crimson couch, or straws, 
The soul in those high lights doth blest remain, 
And there pure music learn and happiness enjoy. 
Beam of the beams ethereal in that pure sky. 



'• Or if for other end designed, what higher 
Can we augur than to serve our human earth ? 
The moral doth the physical, as sire 
The son obey. Then why not in its path 
Above, to man each planet minister 
Below? Did not the Son of God by death 
A value set on him, that not all nature else, 
Serving how much, his heart with equal homage melts?" 



236 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Salvano next arose of fewer years : 
" 'Grainst learning, learning be reply. What say 
The Fathers famed ? If e'er round human hairs 
Her crown pure Wisdom wreathed and not of clay, 
'Twas sure about their locks, whose lore not wears 
Away rude time. What do the Fathers say ? 
Lactantius wise doth proudly scorn Antipodes — 
And great Agustine proves, such not from Adam's knees ! 



" Has then of late some brighter star arose, 
That wise these ancient sages never saw? 
So think perchance the rude — but not who shows 
His descent drawn from men whose will is law 
To Christendom. If then your learned brows 
This shade exalt, 'twould be a lasting flaw 
On Salamanca's fame. For this fair college then 
And for ourselves, let us reject this figment vain." 



Harmenes next : " Though urged with pleasing skill, 
Design I yet suspect in this strange plot. 
Not Spaniard, but a Genoese this hill 
Of learning climbs. Why pressed he boldly not 
His theme at home? Grenoa's fleet wide fill 
The sea — her wealth great piles that ne'er can rot 
Hath proudly raised. Why not, a citizen, the vote 
Of his own peers he took ; but wanders here afloat ? 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 237 

" Perchance some crime or deep insolvency 
Is parent to this scheme. Sure, sane of mind, 
And heart, full life none hate so daringly. 
As all to trust, where 'neath the raging wind, 
Dark waves are tossed on seas unknown. May be. 
Some island near or Christian coast will end 
This novelty, where Spanish fleet and Spanish men 
Will some new col'ny raise we ne'er shall see again." 



Diego last : " Deep pain me all, but most 
What latest we have heard. Would Royalty 
To us confide, unworthy of its post, 
A thing of nought, or whose late end may be 
Injurious? Reproach we herein cast 
Upon the throne, to place a jealous eye 
On whom it recommends to our regard. Such thought 
By us be scorned ! — on Learning, Spanish blood, foul blot. 



" The truth of what our Guest maintains can I 
Nor other judge, till bold experiment 
Shall test, what seen by us with various eye. 
To one appears absurd, a monument 
To other mind of thought. For one, I'm free 
To sanction all, and to the government 
Commend, as worthy of its trust, this noble scheme — 
Time soon can prove its worth, or scatter as a dream." 



288 AMEKICA DISCOVEKED. 

He said. But 'twas a whisper to a storm — 
Before wild winds a leaf. The rest demure 
No argument desired, but kindling warm 
The fancy voted down, ere it allure 
Fresh converts on its side. Once more his arm 
Bold Christopher exalts, in wisdom pure, 
One last appeal to make. Red flashed his eye with fire, 
As thus his tongue expressed the stirrings of his ire. 



" Sages of Spain — what secret passions make 
An end like this, I augur not. The heart 
Is monarch of itself, and must awake 
For its own deeds applause, or that fell dart 
That ever wounds. Your vote can never shake 
From this deep breast, what thought and time impart. 
Invincible within. Who sees the truth full read. 
And loves as sees, all earth from it can ne'er unwed. 



" The Spanish crown ye may despoil of trade 
More wealthy than its mines — may alienate 
More lands, than clothed in luscious vines are laid 
On this peninsular. Yea more, what Fate 
Presents may desecrate, a wreath whose shade 
No autumn kills. The loss be yours. Some State 
Of nobler heart the harvest all will reap, while ye. 
Your error seen too late, may writhe in agony." 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 239 

As some proud king before a plebeian mob, 
That lifts his head on high despite their frown, 
So turned he now from them with beating throb 
Of high disdain. Alas, that in its gown 
Learning enshrined, should rashly seek to rob 
Genius of laurels, 'cause too amply thrown 
Around its brow ! Yet Time at last the right perceives, 
And binds the plundered head with crown of fadeless leaves. 



BOOK XI. 

THE YOYAGE. 

Like some proud Alp in morning's dewy smile, 
He stood before the Queen. Soft snows had now 
Upon his vernal lock begun their pile 
Of wint'ry white, as o'er his manly brow, 
His honor's Time with swift and iron wheel, 
Had left. Yet lived the blazing fire, whose glow 
From his warm eye escaped, as orb of Seraphim — 
Index of soul that 'mid life's ashes dull was flame. 



As melts the early mist before the beam 
That young Apollo shoots upon its heart, 
So moved her breast at him, that all did seem 
Of new-born zeal to blaze. " Free will I part * 

With this my royal crown, and ev'ry gem 
There radiant blot with night, but thou shalt start. 
Brave man, to seek the goal that thy bold heart desires — 
Go spread thy sail — go moor thy ship 'neath western fires." 
11 



242 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Leaped more his heart beneath her angel tongue. 
Than spotted fawn in Spring to seek its dam, 
Bounding that o'er ite bushy pathway young, 
Darts through the dews as some ethereal flame. 
So leaped his heart with manly pulse and strong. 
As late life's evening reaped its early aim. 
Oh ye who nurse some good within through tardy years, 
Behold the joy that crowns our long protracted cares ! 



St. George's bell had rung its multitudes 
To house of prayer. The old, the young, the gay 
Now meet beneath its arch in living crowds, 
To look, to smile with airy heart, to pray — 
The organ's notes and incense to the clouds • 
Had borne with priestly prayers sweetly away, 
The off'rings of the heart. Earth's cares in thinnest air 
Were lost — its groans, its burdens, sighs, forgotten there. 



But hark ! A crier's voice, as clarion's note. 

Peals on the wakened ear. In deep surprise 

All gaze, as on in loud and lab'ring throat 
* The Officer proceeds : " Ferdinand decrees — 

August and Christian King — that by its vote, 

Olipula ordain for western seas 
Two ships of war. These must command the Genoese, 
Who here doth stand, holding in hand the King's decrees. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 243 

As when some earthquake's shock upheaves the ground. 
Strong walls deposing in its giant stroke — 
So passed from heart to palsied heart around 
The tidings sad. Solicitude awoke 
In ev'ry breast, and fear with pulse profound 
O'er joyous eyes exhales its gath'ring smoke. 
'Twould seem the day of reck'ning had forestalled its date, 
So sick in heart the crowd at edict of the State. 



His home with melancholy tread now seeks 
Each citizen. But not as seen before, 
Now look of children, wife and friends the cheeks, 
Whose beam of love, by some malignant power. 
Sepulchral* aspect wore, that only strikes 
The eye with grief. How sad in one brief hour. 
Ten thousand joys that flourish round the heart to kill- 
Sweet innocence, and mirth, and laughter thus to still ! 



Imagination works to deeper dread 
The common fear. Where stars descending set,— 
Each smiling to the last — uplifts its head. 
By thunders pealed, — a dismal pit of Fate — 
The gulfy Tartarus. Its gloomy shade 
Spirits of horror fill, whose restless hate. 
Upheaving from beneath the sulph'rous rocks of fire. 
Turns waves to liquid flame, and all around devour. 



244 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

More sober in tlieir views, some augur there 
Maelstroms of vast extent, or waterfalls 
Of thund'rous roar. A downward curve some fear, 
Whose circle passed, the ship e'er downward falls 
That tries to reascend. Monsters now hear 
The tender and the young, whose gutt'ral walls 
Whole ships and men absorb. Thus raved, prolific. Fear, 
Whose spell from human minds Reason nor Art could tear. 



Pinzon, 'twas thine — a noble name — to still 
The furious storm : " The ships, with all of life 
That beats in this warm heart, judgment and will, 
I venture for the West. If in the strife 
Of distant seas such omens sad as fill 
Your minds there be — this heart, inured to grief. 
Shall brave the worst. But fancies of the brain can shako 
No seaman's heart — fullest at ease when storms awake. 



" Evil I augur not, but full success 
T' this adventure. Revolved, and studied long. 
The whole I proud adopt ; and in the face 
Of your pale fears — 'fore women, tender young, 
Char'cter and life for it I downward place. 
Disperse your tears, brave friends, that more belong 
To infancy than men. Palos this day shall make 
Immortal as the star on heaven's unchanging cheek." 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 245 

As 'gainst a rock the hurrying tide doth break, 

Back turning on itself, yet pauses short 

Till wave with wave combined, it round doth make 

A sep'rate path — so 'gainst the manly port 

Of his high soul conflicting passions strike ; 

Reversed the few, with still more rapid dart 

The many passing by. Bold hearts him patronize ; 

The timid, weak, unmanly, flee with weeping eyes. 



The day arrives. Augustus, 'twas thy star 
Now shone upon the earth. Good omen this 
To what despised, o'er western waves afar. 
Was destined to uprear, that in its bliss 
Proud Rome should far excel. Calm ported are 
The ships ; more restless than the sea each face 
And heart of man, that eyes them oft with sad dismay,, 
And in their shrouds beholds their doom, far, far away. 



One sacrifice the winds and Heaven demand — 
Confession full for sin. Perez, 'twas thine — 
An honored task — 'twixt suppliants to stand 
And Heaven's high throne. The hero first at shrine 
All merciful descends, with lifted hand 
And eye, life's errors to bewail : " 'Tis thine. 
Almighty, to forgive whate'er of sin in me 
Is found — whate'er of grace I need, 'tis thine all free 



246 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" To grant. If e'er presumptuously I've done 
What thy pure Law condemns, or, by mistake 
Have grieved thy Spirit or thy spotless Throne- 
Back to myself such folly all I take, 
Forgiveness asking through thine only Son. 
If e'er for benefits received awake 
No thanks in me ; or, if thy gifts to selfish ends 
Have been applied — here I desire to make amends. 



" To Thee, omnipotent on land, on sea. 
Myself I dedicate and waiting crew. 
Smile on this soul, Father divine, and be 
Its Guardian now, when most thy friendship true 
Reason and skill demand. Not self, but Thee 
I herein serve, agent appointed now 
For all of human kind. Whate'er my fate or end, 
The untold future all to Thee I now commend." 

Brave men succeeding fast now lowly bend. 
Where never falls faith's tear in vain. Ah, deep 
As ocean's heart the struggling cries they send 
4^ Unseen to Heaven ! The Past and Future leap 
Together on one hour, whose weight would bend. 
If not upheld. Time's axle in its sweep. 
Tremendous date ! connecting in its link two spheres, 
That since, two oceans arched, makes earth what earth 
appears ! 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 247 

'Tis done ; and now convene upon the shore 

The multitudes to take the last adieu. 

Oh parting words and looks, what inward pow'r 

Ye have, the eye, the spirit to subdue ! 

E'en when we hope, that Time's revolving hour 

Will soon the heart possess of some loved view 
It lingers to forsake — 'tis hard to say — farewell — 
But when for evermore the eye despairs to dwell 



On looks and smile of those we love — ah, high 
As mountain on the soul that dirgeful word, 
Whose weight no tears profuse, or struggling sigh 
Can thence remove. Time j&ies ; yet still is heard 
As echo from the tomb, for ever nigh, 
For ever keen, that soft, destroying word. 
Odiel, thy wave such melancholy partings saw, 
When sons and lovers stood upon thy banks with awe. 



Here wept the mother on her son, no hope 
Possessing that her eye, his cheek or lip 
Shall e'er behold again. On his doth drop 
Her bosom, freighted with more care, than ship 
Of weightiest cargo bears. Ah ne'er doth stop 
Her tears, that from her heart disturbed doth drip 
On his all flaming cheek ; deep tokens of a love, 
That fire nor flood, nor change nor time, can e'er remove. 



248 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Two Lovers stood, whose nuptial night all blest 
Dian should bring, when o'er the glassy wave 
Of Cunia her silver arms and crest 
Should next be seen. As at the early grave 
Of Hope they wept upon each other's breast. 
In storm of grief high-tossed, as when do heave 
The forests mighty winds. Like lily pale she bent, 
He strong like oak of ev'ry bough and leaflet rent. 

But one, a sire, his son unmoved addressed : 
" Child of my bone, my nerve, my inmost heart ; 
Go brave the sea. Coward and here distressed 
I weep not loud. Mine are the tears that start 
Within the soul, and there as fountain blest 
Shall ever flow, my child, for thee. We part, 
But not in virtue, prayer. For noble end thee long 
I've trained ; that noble end pursue, brave Boy, while young." 

But hark ! The hero on the prow of his 

High ship, now lifts his hand, his healing voice : 

'•'■ Hear me, ye stricken ones, too weak to face, 

What I revolving long, in heart rejoice 

To see. Noble the off'ring that ye place 

This day at my command — your sons — your bliss — 

'Mid streaming tears. High Heaven be witness, that this 
heart. 

Touched at the costly gift, that gift will ne'er desert. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 249 

" Whate'er on sea, on land, betide this heart, 
Dear as the blood that flows within shall be 
Your sons and sires to me. No secret dart 
Misfortune sends on them, but touchingly 
Shall pierce this soul as theirs. One common part 
We bear of good or ill — one destiny 
Pursue. If honor, fame, success, shall crown this brow, 
'Twill shine on them as me, united e'er as now. 



" Nor fear the sea. — On distant coasts unknown 
It laves with gentle touch as here the shore, 
Bathing, perchance, beside its peaceful throne 
Some maiden's foot, some seaman's boat, that far 
On its undreaded wave has sportive gone. 
What lies between soft winds will kindly bear 
Us swiftly o'er. This past, our prize is richly won, 
Cathay, Cipang, or Ind, beneath the setting sun." 



He said ; as rose the whited sail to meet 
The courting breeze. As if by magic sent, 
Each shroud and rope its place assumes. Eyes greet, 
Still greet in tears each other's gaze, as went 
Down Odiel slow the half-reluctant fleet. 
Ah, hard to part, where backward e'er is sent, 
The heart's pierced love on ev'ry winged thought that goes 
To linger still behind, where love and friendship glows ! 
11* 



250 AMEKICA DISCOVEEED. 

Yet love, nor friendship, tears nor home deter 
The onward fleet, 'round Saltes seen the last. 
Momentous Barks ' whose sides as on they steer. 
More embryos bear of future things, than mast 
Or hull e'er held before ! The seeds were there 
Of Empires, Kingdoms, States, that in the west, 
The eastern old, should flourish in unending youth- 
Philosophy, Religion, Commerce there and Truth ! 



How like to thee, O Son of Lamech, were 
These far adventurers, who on a flood 
Uncrossed before, to new world safely bear 
The treasures of the old ! Oh that they had 
But blessings borne — oppression, evil, care. 
Far left behind ! But e'en our western wood 
Foul trees begin to bear, the seeds from Europe brought- 
Oh that our children late may never pluck the fruit ! 



Ocean ! What thoughts of power thou wakest up ! 
Whence come thy multitude of drops, that hold 
Imperial sway o'er most the freighted lap 
Of earth below 1 Were thy proud billows rolled 
Together strong, lest inward fires, that wrap 
Our planet's heart, its crust should wide enfold 
In living flame ? Or is thine end from man to part 
Warm man, quenching between the passions of his heart ? 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 251 

Image of Power, of God, Eternity — 

Thou boldest with an icy hand each pole ; 

And with thy chain vast continents, that lie 

On thy pure wave, confinest to the goal. 

That through all time unchanged they occupy. 

Companion of storms, when roused thy soul 
By mighty winds, the clouds become thy chariot — 
Becalmed, upon thy bosom gemmed soft star-lights float ! 



But there are things that make infinity 
More infinite. The soul's dark view by no 
Experience led, struggling the vast to see 
That rises unexplored, above, below, 
Yields terror to the great, whose agony 
Within a sense imparts, that makes to grow 
What hath no bounds. Experience the evil cures, 
The mind accustomed now to its own little shores. 



What thoughts majestic then arose within 
Each seaman's heart, when first his eye bedimmed 
In its unbounded gaze, oft tried in vain. 
The curve descending far of waters rimmed 
By heaven, to contemplate ! Ah, ne'er again. 
Can Ocean's deep sublimity be hymned 

Upon the soul, in tones so lade with stirring awe. 

As when Spain's seamen first its untouched bosom saw ! 



252 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Long leagues they sail the wilderness of waves. 
Save the three ships and heaven, above, around. 
Nought else is seen but alternate the graves 
And jDoaks of Ocean's restlessness profound. 
Fresh from his wat'ry couch Apollo waves 
Each morn his golden locks — fast hurr'ing round. 
Each evening drops, mid Occidental billows far, 
His chariot-wheels. From water comes and sets each star ! 



As in a gulf of ether unexplored, 

Some heav'nly Hierarch pauses in suspense ; 

Fearing to climb where wing has never soared, 

Fearing t' return o'er track now grown immense — 

So paused, so struggled amid ocean shored 

By nought of land, the bravest hearts, long since 

Surpassed the ideal coasts, all hoped at first to reach. 

Return or progress now seemed clothed with terror each ! 



Suspense of danger — all the past proclaims — 
Is worse to feel the curse we future dread. 
Strong passions then awake whose crossing flames 
Give fury to the soul, its reason fled, 
Or held in chains. Himself each seaman blames, 
His king, his country, fate — but most, who led 
His feet astray — the Great Adventurer ! — So stood 
At Migdol Amram's Son. chided, but raised his rod ! 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 253 

But there is magic power in one brave heart 

O'er timid fears. High standing on the prow. 

With voice first heard in elocjuence to dart 

O'er western seas, the Hero firmly now 

His men exhorts. " Companions brave, why start 

"Within your souls dark thoughts, that upward grow 

To paleness on your cheeks ? Long days, long nights, 'tis 
true 

Ye plough the unknown deep, no welcome land in view. 

'• Your constancy herein I praise — your trust 
Reposed in me. Ah, few of human kind 
Such toils as ye endure, uncertain, lost 
On untried seas, could bear with equal mind ! 
On your strong courage still, I cheerful cast 
Of this unmapped, unmeasured way, the end. 
Accomplished now the most, ye surely will not shrink 
From that all splendid prize near Ocean's hast'ning brink ! 

" The sea as land is bounded by some shore. 
Left free on either side, its waves that roll 
Unforced, would thence descend with awful roar 
Yast continents to flood, forsaken all 
Its bed behind ! What binds it to the shore 
Of Europe, lies high clifted at the goal 
We westward seek. Long leagues already past proclaim, 
That shore not far, sweet smiling 'neath some western beam. 



254 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Once more then rouse your fortitude to bear 
The trials of the sea. 'Tis not by way 
Direct, but wand'ring oft, and dark, and drear, 
God leads to victory. Afflictions lay 
Foundations deep for joys, that after bear 
Diviner fruit. Perhaps some op'ning bay, 
Or isle, or coast of vernal bloom, now courts the eye 
Half-seen, as here I speak. Oh, let us rather die 



" Than traitors prove to our near destiny." 
He said ; as o'er the sea on sportive wing 
Two sea-birds came, that arching 'long the sky 
. Encircled now the ship. Ah, ne'er in Spring, 
Or Summer's meditative morn, to eye 
Or ear, such joy the vocal forests bring. 

As at that painful hour, these heralds of the land ! 

All gazed, admired, and still admiring joyful stand. 



The sky, the sea, and each warm cheek now beamed 
With new-born hope. This to confirm, beside 
Them float, late loosened from the shore that seemed 
Not far, rent weeds and grass, that on the tide 
Of Ocean lay, first-fruits of land. All deemed 
The trophy won, as gazing far and wide, 
From deck, from mast, each seaman now with heart elate, 
Seeks in the distance dim some coast or western State. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 255 

But hence, delighted herald, flee ahead, 



Melpomene, Euterpe, Clio fair, 
Or what fond sister of the Nine has led 
Mj song thus far. On land as sea there are 
Fit themes for thee ; especially, where shade 
Of evergreens conceals, from nightly star 
And winds. Guano's tent. Bravely was laid to rest 
The Chief, his tomahawk and bow beside his breast. 



One child was his, the lily of his eye — 
Higenah fair. Oft when his fisher's boat 
Returned him to the land, or with a sigh 
Of hot fatigue the chase he left, her throat | 

And bounding limbs with laughter bursting high, 
Would welcome to his tent. And when all hot 
The trees were drooping without wind, beneath the shade 
At noon, she'd hold, and oft caress his honored head. 



Beneath his tent of palm softly she sleeps, 
As dew on Hana's leaf Dark ringlets lie 
Upon her neck — vermillion beauty creeps 
Round either cheek. If e'er a girlish sio-h 
By day she had, it slumbers now, or weeps 
Unconscious tears. Or if, some lover's eye 
Soft sympathies had waked in her all sportive breast. 
The dart, the spell, the charm of love was now at rest. 



256 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

But there are wings unseen, unfelt, that when 
We sleep, surround the curtained eye. Like dreams 
They come, too oft, alas ! like dreams forgotten, 
Disappear. Revealed she sees, in glowing beams 
Of light, Adona by her side. Upon 
Her gazed the Okki with surprise, who seems 
Lovely as when o'er green, o'er banks of matted grass, 
Idly they strolled at eve, or plucked in sportive chase 



The lilies of the vale. " Hana's pure Rose, 
Why keeps its silver ball the golden lid. 
When near thee stands, anxious to press thy brows 
|fi^ith gentle touch, thy Anda loved ? Long fled 
Thy sight, I now return gladly the vows 
Of childhood to renew, and love, tho' shade. 
As we were wont to love, when pressed thy hand this hand, 
With glow, alas ! on earth, too ardently to stand ! 



" Where peaceful lake of Xaraqua reflects 
Elysian bowers, and 'neath o'erarching trees 
Sweet fountains rise, that through the grassy brakes 
Mellifluous flow — a fairy land of ease — 
All happy Okkies dwell. There sweetly wakes 
At dawn, at eve, music divine, whose lays 
Roll on the quiet lake, or joined with song of birds, 
Reanimate the grove with sweet and heavenly words. 



AMEKICA DISCOVEKED. 257 

" Thence have I come tidings to bring thee new : 
Short leagues from where the billows break on rocks 
Of liana's isle, strangers approach, whose view 
On land, on sea, unlike all western looks, 
Will wake thy wild astonishment. A few 
They are of multitudes, that ocean locks 
By oriental bars, from western men. Long lost 
Upon the sea, they seek now anxiously thy coast. 



" As clouds along the wave their ships, as roar 
Of thunders loud, their wild artillery. 
Nor hath the sun on them as thee its pow'r 
Imposed — but left upon each cheek and eye, 
'Mid saffron hues, a pearly white. Of yore 
Their blood with thine was mixed, by diff'rent sky 
Divided since, that through long years has marked its lines 
Divergent on you both — seeming no longer twins. 



" The Spirit, who resides where calmly set 
The sinking stars, has sent them here. They come 
Adventurers to find, what long by fate 
Our sires have here possessed as happy home, 
This western continent. Not war, nor hate 
They bring, but peaceful arts, whose after doom 
With them shall spread, as forests long our verdant hills. 
Our lakes and sunny streams to crowd with burdened sails. 



258 AMEKICA DISCOVEKED. 

" This jealousy shall wake between their race 
And ours. Chief joined to chief the forests all 
Shall fill with war's terrific cry. The chase, 
The fisher's boat, the patch of corn and call 
Of wife and child, warriors shall leave, to face 
With tomahawk and bow, the white man's ball 

]jOud thund'ring in the wood. Blood oft with blood shall 
pour, 

Libation to the fiends, whose cruel work is war. 

" These shall arise in distant times, the work 
Pursued, till league by league, posterity 
Shall find their lands in other hands. Where bark 
The hollow waves on western rocks, and sea 
And land conjoin, lately shall stand the ark. 
The relics of our race t' bear mournfully 
Away, to their first home. 'Tis sad, but thus decreed 
By Him, who gives or takes the soil his power has made. 

" Yet go, as prophetess inspired, and on 
The early beach the hand of friendship give. 
Not these in fault, through many dangers thrown 
Upon thy peaceful isle. Nor should we grieve 
At changes wrought by Providence, whose throne, 
Too high to feel our selfish ends, can weave 
For nations, men, no partial destinies. — Go meet 
Their Chief — go welcome to thy shore these sons of fate." 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 259 

It stole upon her ear as music on 
A lake. Affection, fear, deep wonder rose 
In her young heart anxious to tell, and then 
Afraid her father to afflict with woes. 
Too childish for a chieftain's ear. Still on 
They come, the bold adventurers. Night throws 
Her ebon cloak far on the restless sea, now pearled 
By diamonds of the sky ; yet, than each upper world 



More anxiously is sought, the lifted torch 
Of fisher's boat, or light upon the shore. 
Midnight now stands one sign beyond her arch, 
When suddenly is heard, unheard before 
With equal joy, the signal gun, that beach 
And sea afar astounds with echoes o'er. 
Longest those echoes rang in each glad seaman's heart, 
Waking emotions there, ah, never to depart ! . 



Mothers have joy at birth of first-born son — 
Fathers when crowned such son in after years 
With civic fame, or laurel-wreaths are won 
From battle-fields. — Young brides, when round their ears 
Soft greetings rise, seem angels in the sun — 
And Wisdom smiles whe-n to her eye appears 
New truths first found — But all of these, nor one hath joy, 
Equal to thine, Columbus, at that midnight cry. 



260 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

'Tis morn — and now is seen upon the wave, 
Lovely as woman in her smiles, an isle 
Of beauteous shape. Ah, never virgin gave 
To man's bowed heart, submissive to her will. 
Such thrill of ecstasy, as wave on wave. 
Now comes from Hana's dewy trees and isle. 
To Spanish hearts. 'Twould seem again the nuptial bow'r 
'F Eve were painted 'fore th' eye, in that fresh golden show'r. 



They land — the Hero first. With bended knee 
The soil he clasps, and on its grav'lly cheek 
Impresses deep, and long, and silently. 
The ardor of his heart. " God," now break 
His lips in prayer — " God, most thankfully 
Thy Name, Thy Power I praise, that here do make 
Life's end complete. The land, the sea, the heavens are Thine, 
And what Thou giv'st to Thee returned we would resign." 



High in the breeze now float the wavy shrouds 
Of Spain's insignia. 'Mid these the Cross, 
First reared in Judea, but 'long the clouds 
Of western lands now doomed to take its place. 
Around, the vet'rans of the sea in crowds 
Collect, adoring as a god, whose face 
Unchanged by threats and angry tones, had smiled serene, 
Till now their perils o'er, it more than smiled again. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 261 

These greetings o'er, along the beach is seen 
A vet'ran form, a damsel at his side. 
As some brave oak, that o'er the fertile plain, 
'Mid broken limbs, its head exalts in pride, 
So looked the Chief, whose high and lofty brain 
"Winters had snowed, but from whose eye a tide 
Of fiery passions streamed. — In wild surprise he stood, 
His guests to augur gods, or if of mortal blood. 



Silence Higenah broke, who thus addressed 
The Captain of the host. " Brave man, whose fate 
The gods have fixed, and thee appointed west 
Millions to lead, whence first the Sun in state 
Ascends the oriental sea, amazed, oppressed, 
We still thy coming hail, and at the gate 

Of thy first entrance yield to thee the hand of peace. 

So Heaven ordains — so wills our heart to meet thy face. 



" Near to my side, when last the balmy night 
Sweet sleep had cast upon my limbs, one stood : 
It was my Anda loved. In youth's delight 
Oft had we spent as one, near forest, flood, 
The passing suns ; and like the birds, whose flight 
We watched, oft felt our hearts in bounding mood 
Up-leap to catch some golden joy. — But short the moon 
That o'er us hung — fair Anda fell, and I am one ! 



262 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Three times the lily of the vale has bloomed ; 
Three times the peach has bent its arching limb 
With fruit ; since life's chief. Joy to me was tomed ! 
Each moon that since with golden horn the rim 
Of yon deep pine hath palely gemmed, her doomed, 
With cedar-branch I seek and plaintive hymn. 
Knit heart to heart around her mound the wild vines grow, 
Whose spreading leaves I count, whose tendrils all I know. 



" 'Twas but this night, when 'neath the palmy tent 
Of this my Sire I slept, she stole beside 
My couch, and on my wakened ear intent, 
Such words pronounced, as through the after shade 
Of night, with deep, but dark astonishment 
This bosom filled. Thyself, these ships have made 
The vision plain. Here are my Anda's words before 
My eyes — fulfilled my nightly dream on daylight's shore. 



" For her, for this my sire, for all the hearts 
That living beat on this our peaceful isle, 
I give thee. Chief, what this warm hand asserts — 
A welcome to our shore. Waves, pile on pile, 
Have us divided long, severed by arts 
At last of nautic skill through thee. Ah, while 
Yon Sun his furnaces shall light with daily fire. 
Thy fame like his shall rise, but never shall expire." 



AMEEICA DISCOYEEED. 263 

Amazement filled each eye, each ardent cheek, 
That from the lips of youth unseen before, 
Such prophecies should rise. The Hero spake — 
" Surely, companions of my toil, this shore 
High Heaven to Christian men ordains. — Hence take 
New courage for the cares, that more and more. 
On your strong hands may fall. We lay this day the stone. 
That through all coming years Posterity shall crown." 



BOOK XII. 

THE PKISON. 

FoE-TUNE vain, whose swift kaleidoscope 
Time changeful holds with ever-varying hand, 
Rainbow the joys thou paintest to our hope, 
Rolling the stones on which by thee we stand ! 
Thy morning wreath how oft a. cruel rope 
At eve ; thy more than princely gifts but sand ! 
Yet fickle as thou art, men vile would change thee more, 
And what they merit not would wrest from other's door. 



Capricious god, thy smile is wanton given 
Where worth and virtue have no lasting home. 
How oft by thee are noble hearts far driven. 
To seek 'mid deserts wild their outcast doom ! 
Elate with joy in thy mysterious heaven 
Chief live the base, the better in thy tomb ! 
Oh blest the man, whose heart too stern thy smile to feel, 
Proud scorns thy flatteries and sings beneath thy wheel ! 
12 



266 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

Brief from thy scourge renowned He stood and great, 
The sea his base, a new-made world his crown. 
But ah, how rudely doomed by thee and Fate 
To cast, as Autumn's tree, his honors down ! 
Yet fell they not as Autumn's robe all late — 
But like the Summer's pine, whose top is strown 

By Jove's high thunder on the ground. He sank at noon ; 

But sank to rise again with tenfold glory soon. 



Where peaceful Azema her fragrant smile 
Casts on the Carib sea, as maid her love 
On man's rough heart, 'mid forests green a pile 
Of late-hewn trunks is seen. Here in a grove 
Diazo sought retreat, a fatal broil 
To cool in woman's arms, as strongly wove 
Cate'na round his heart the web of love unknown, 
Dipping each thread in gold that she might always own. 



O'er nature's breast, untouched by art before. 
Her wand young Science moves, as spring to life 
The cottage and the dome, and 'long the shore 
Besound from lifted axe and saw the strife 
Of busy sounds. The new-made-streets gay pour 
Their multitudes along, as high and chief 
The temple's spire is seen, whose solemn belt at dawn. 
At eve, the Indian charms and fills the grassy lawn. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 267 

On hill, that down-ward looks o'er busy men, 
He stood. High o'er his head the stately palm 
Bathes in the sun its swordy crown, as when 
On war's destructive plain, great heroes calm 
Their crowded blades exalt all madly keen. 
Before and far, the ocean like a lamb 

Lies still — behind, proud mountains rise, whose peaks of 
green 

Eden the ruby sky with Spring's bewitching scene. 

From silver veil, that Time had thinly cast 
Upon his brow, he upward looked and sighed : 
" Is this the goal that laboring hard at last 
My age has reached 1 Beyond great ocean wide 
Like this no cup I drank, though oft the blast 
Of Fortune wild I shared, that o'er my side 

And heart fell strong ! Land of my lifetime's dream, the 
star 

Of all my hopes, on thee must I such fetters wear ? 

" Nor made by Indian hands, whose gen'rous heart 
Disdains the deed through inward love of right. 
Baptized, who now such treacherous gifts impart 
For years of arduous toil, by day, by night ! 
Humanity ! Is this the venomed dart 
Thy envy hurls in heaven's unsullied light? 
And thou. Blest Queen, whom absent, present, I adore, 
Is this the gall thy more than angel hand doth pour?" 



268 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

He said, as down his pallid cheek the brine 
Of inward grief fell warm, that on the breast 
Of nature sought repose — a welcome shrine 
For those, who find in human hearts no rest — 
"Where now has fled that haughty pride of thine?" 
Diego aext, as o'er his arms, his breast, 
The rope he cast. " Thou art an infant now, all tears, 
As Justice for thy crimes to her tribunal bears. 



" Once, as a noble pine on Haytian hills, 
Its head amid the clouds, its lofty feet 
High raised above the better growth that fills 
The vale beneath, thou stoodest in thy state, 
A very god. Reversed, deep horror chills 
Thy bones, thy flesh, because reluctant Fate 
Has laid its hand on thy proud heart. Kestram thy tears 
But women weep, and who like them are filled with fears ?" 



" Not at thy hempen cord, or steel I weep. 
Vile knave, much less at thee. These hard-worn feet 
And hands, that on the land and varied deep 
Soft rest have seldom known, can firmly meet 
These lighter chains — honors that villains heap 
Upon the good. That Royalty should set 
Its honored seal upon the work of worthless men. 
Excites my tears — not their loathed persons or their spleen. 



AMEBIC A DISCOVERED. 269 

" Like lion strong, whose limbs the huntsman binds, 
Caught in a subtle net, that barking curs 
Might gnaw his gen'rous neck, as o'er it winds 
Their empty froth — so am I held by snares 
That o'er my honor, age, and heart that finds 
On earth no rest ; base men may crawl, whose ears. 
If free, my vo'ice would terrify, as heart of stag 
The lion's roar. But bind — 'tis 'neath the Spanish flag !" 



Weeks passed — and yet to him huge timbers made 
All earth one floor, all heaven one grated light ! 
Still was the weary day, more still the shade. 
Whose calm nought troubled but the idle flight 
Of winds, that through the shingles breathed all sad, 
As o'er a fevered child its nurse by night. 
So lies misfortune e'er on earth in her lone cell — 
A cast-ofi" plague with which lione better choose to dwell 



But where, on sorrow's path descending low 
Through dark and frightful steeps, the foot of man 
Ne'er comes, kind Angels sent do often show 
A purer love. Earth's pageantry all vain 
Obscures their ministry, as stars that grow 
Unseen in solar light. 'Tis night of pain 
And dark desertion, that reveals their happy wings. 
As 'neath their radiance cheered the fallen spirit sings. 



270 AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 

'Twas night. The stars — those eyes of Deity, — 
That, when all mortals sleep, survey the world — 
Shone calm in heaven. Wide o'er the distant sea 
Diana floored the wave with gems, that pearled 
Upon its breast in restless brilliancy. 
On couch, or straw, each human eye now furled 
Seeks rest, as hulled upon the heart fierce passions lay, 
Till life's repeated call shall give them new-born play. 



He slept — for Nature kind her wings of down 
Will spread upon the lid of misery. 
Yet not like fortune's sons in country, town. 
High hung on oak or rich mahogany, 
He lay. — His bed was plank, his folded gown 
The cushion scant of his worn brow. Calmly 
He slept, till visions of the night his thoughts employ. 
Filling his fallen heart with rich, seraphic joy. 



Beside him stands a Form not earthly known : 
Of flame his eye, of light his garment low. 
Peaceful his look, as from strong Reason's throne, 
Far down descend his locks of fiery glow. 
Light from his person through the prison shone, 
Kevealing in its blaze the station low 
Of him who slept in chains. Awaked the pris'ner sees 
With terror, who addressed him kindly, and thus says : 



AMEKICA DISCOVERED. 271 

" Why cliained, brave Hero thus, whom nations own 
Their proudest name 7 O'er heaven's empyreal dome 
Thy fame abroad is spread — and art thou strown 
As culprit on this floor, whose well-earned doom 
Strong locks and bars must keep? Where now are flown 
Thy better winds, that thou should'st have such home 7 

Did thy own choice these cheerless walls unforced embrace ? 

Or have vile hands here bound thee to their own disgrace ?" 



" Not of myself," returned his frighted heart, 
" But of base men, whose hate its poisoned thread 
Weaves in my better life, I share the part 
Of criminal. Boabdil chief, whose head 
Too scant to weigh another's worth, his art 
Employs for my disgrace. His willing aid, 
Fonseca, turns at home each magic wire of hate, 
To wrest from foreign head the vernal crown of fate. 



" Others unite, once lifted by these hands 
To fame in sight of blessing royalty. 
Forgot my parent's care, in ruthless bands 
They join, to fix concerted wrath on me ! 
So chase wild winds the bark that proudly stands 
Upon the deep, a common foe, all free. 
Alas, how human passions rage, when once their gate 
Rude hands unbar and turn out human hate ! 



272 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Yet not all man the cause. Unseen is One, 
Whose purpose fixed controls our mortal life, 
As planets in their orbs one central sun. 
Nor comes there e'er to human lips of grief 
The cup, but from his hand. That hand I own, 
That o'er me spread, amid the bitter strife 
Of men, their rage restrains, and but its finger lays, 
Where on the sickly heart' some fatal ulcer preys." 

" His servant I to thee bring tidings good. 
Who o'er thee rage shall sink, their fragments cast 
Upon the sea — and e'en their work now rude, 
When Time's great wheel in its revolving haste 
Shall wear out present things, will dark be strewed 
As shadows on thy fame, to give when past 

Thy virtues youth. So smiles the bow on heaven's dark 
crest. 

So shines more bright the moon 'mid shadows of the west. 

'• But thine own sun, that long has toiled in pain 
Up heaven's high arch, and now fatigued doth shed 
Its beams on evening's cheek, in peace its reign 
Triumphantly shall yield. Nor night's deep shade 
Shall be thy pall, whose risen star shall shine 
With more effulgent joy, as long are laid 
Thy limbs below. Ah, glorious the night that o'er thy sleep, 
'Mid lights that never set, its peaceful watch shall keep. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 273 

" But T now haste the truth to publish whole. 
Long ere in thy young breast first stirred the thought 
Of foreign land, while cheerfully at school 
Of Tieinum thy task thou pli'dst, on nought 
Reflecting but the work before thee dull — 
The Guardians of thy sphere,, whose wakeful lot 
It is, o'er human things to watch, assembled wise, 
This Land, by consultation deep to make thy future prize. 



" 'Mid much debate 'twas finally decreed, 
High Heaven to seek your lifetime's work to plan. 
How lost through space we soared there is no need 
To tell, or all we absent saw explain. 
The end we gained, and from restrictions freed, 
E'er since have toiled on this great Land, the reign 
Of Truth and Righteousness to plant. The dawn appears 
Of our fond hope— the full-orbed day the future bears. 



" O'er thee 'twas mine through life thy chosen way 
To guide. In days long past, twice have I been 
To thee revealed — first, at the sleep of day, 
Where Tesino along the woodland scene 
Soft murmurs to the Po. Next at the bay, 
Where Tagus rolls in pride his silver sheen 
Bright to the Ocean's wave. Unseen by thee beside, 
Ne'er has my guardian hand been absent from thy side. 
12* 



274 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" But most thy heart to cheer, now cast thine eye 
Down future years. Not small the verdant soil 
By thee late found. Where proudly Arcton high 
Holds in his double paw the stately pile 
Of ice that summer never feels, to sky 
Remote o'er southern seas, it lies. Proud roll 
Upon its western side great waves, whose virgin smile 
Ne'er yet its joy has shed upon the passing keel. 



" Vast mountains, lakes, and laughing spring 
Abound from shore to distant shore all blest. 
Here bounds the deer, and here of ev'ry wing 
Gay birds their melodies attune ; while Nature dressed 
As happiest bride, exults her smiles to fling 
All o'er this Land. From east to happy west 
'Tis paradise of bliss — a land of fruits and flowers, 
Without forbidden tree or Satan in its bowers. 



•'Gold in its streams, and in its bosom ore 
Of silver mines are found. Present the gems 
Of orient Ind, whose blazing orbs shall pour. 
Starred on the crown of kings, efi"ulgent beams. 
Such is the land, that in thy lifetime's hour, 
'Mid toil by day, and on thy bed swift dreams 
By night, 'twas thine appointed task of Heaven to find 
And thus at dying leave a world to bless mankind. 



AMEBIC A DISCOYEKED. 275 

"Immense thy work — its peerless monument — 
Not city, state, or massive pile whoso height 
Near meets the stars — a mighty continent 
Thy trophy proud shall be, while day and night. 
Or rock, or shore, or, in the firmament 
Bright stars shall shine. Envy shall claim the right 
To name — and Time, that rolls o'er words as water stone, 
That right shall yield — yet e'er shall stand the Work thine 
own. 

" To these blest lands shall come through future time 
Proud Europe's sons, who on its velvet green 
Shall lay their heads, as to the happy chime 
Of bees and sportive rills, that flow between 
All flowery banks, their ears entranced shall dream' 
Of care and pain no more. The beggar mean 
New-made shall feel his life-blood start from other font, 
And here shall ha23py smile each outcast son of want. 



" The Southern Land, whose starry snow descends 
In three great rivers to the sea, shall yield 
Its soil and gems to Castile blood that blends 
With Arragon. One part shall Alvar's shield 
Procure for Lusitan, as loudly rends 
The air his nitrous joy, and in a field 
The mass he- celebrates. Despised the gift untried, 
Spurned Eber's sons shall first awake the desert bride. 



276 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Long years shall these new Lands repay all free 
Their homage due and gold the parent State. 
But Time, that brings to babes full liberty, 
And from its nest the eagle sends elate 
To soar unchecked in heaven's empyrean sky — 
From cottages and farms will raise the fate 
Of these new colonies, that like new stars admired. 
Shall take their place in heaven with endless glory fired. 



" Yet not the highest fame and liberty 
Shall these attain. Misled by gold and gems 
That here abound, they'll not with industry 
Their rich soil till, that shall decay 'mid dreams 
Of shadowy wealth, as squalid misery 
Invests who idly stand at golden streams. 
Labor wise Providence assigns to human things, 
Unwrought tliis Qiiine her lap no teeming plenty brings. 



" Far worse their moral state. Religion here 
Like out-cast lamb, o'er which dark vultures spread 
Their sooty wings, and on its vitals bare 
Their beaks of flowing blood insatiate feed — 
Shall be oppressed long years by priests, that share 
Its offal food and feast on virtues dead. 
Extinguished thus the orb that men must guide aright. 
O'er all beneath will spread the raven wing of night. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 277 

" As when on ashes warm of some great pile 
Young children walk, whose tender feet can keep 
No steadfast place, but flj in frantic style 
From track to track — so here unstayed shall leap 
The public heart all restlessly, until 
Some Freeman's sword shall with tremendous sweep 
Cut priestcraft from the laws, and thus on error's tomb, 
To Truth and Freedom give a safe and endless home. 



" Diff 'rent the North, whose fertile soil less gemmed 
Shall tempt to husbandry, as o'er its hills 
And smiling vales the steady plough strong-framed 
Shall cast its furrows wide, whose bosom fills 
The nascent seed. The massive barn well-beamed 
Shall golden harvests fill, when winter kills 
The verdant blade. Thus rural industry shall pour, 
With lib'ral hand, its gifts upon the farmer's floor. 



" These lands shall sons of Albion possess. 
Some on his Lion's paw shall come to till 
The soil, who by his side in wilderness 
Shall rest secure. Some, from his rage to kill 
At home, shall flee 'mid jsavages a place 
To find for their pure faith — where calm and still 
Pure waters flow through forests to the distant sea, 
And nought true prayer disturbs but Nature's minstrelsy. 



278 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

'• These in their youth shall serve the parent Land. 
But when to manhood grown, the heavy scourge 
Shall drive them to revolt, as hand in hand 
They lift the blazing sword, and onward urge 
The' mighty war. Years shall their crystal sand - 
Be drenched in blood, till standing on the verge 
Of hope, her eagle plumes shall Freedom lift on high, 
Her splendid prize below, her wings from sky to sky. 



" Who shall her trophy thus in heaven exalt, 
Next learn. Of Mary born and Augustine, 
The light he first shall see, where playful melt 
On Potomac, Spring's floreate joys. Not mean 
Of birth, his youthful hand shall clasp the hilt 
Of war not vain, as from the peaceful scene 
Of home's warm hearth, he seeks wild savages to drive. 
Or force the Grallic bands back to their northern hive. 



'• Him shall the People choose, when War's loud roar 

Shall rend the sky, to quell its thunders loud, 

And o'er its tumults calmed from shore to shore, 

Immerse his Country's Stripes in ev'ry cloud. 

High shall his righteous hand»on heaven's gemmed flooi 

Pure Liberty exalt ; whose torn-up shroud 

The Deep shall coffin on its base — its portals wide 

To men of ev'ry clime, to enter and abide. 



AMERICA DISCOVERED. 279 

" His country saved, this Hero's fame shall rise, 

A constellation new on heaven's high dome. 

A central light, 'twill fix divergent eyes. 

That else misled from Freedom's happy home, 

Might meteors chase through false and dang'rous skies, 

"Far off to find for all a common tomb. 

Great Washington this evil shall prevent and fate, 

United all to Him as children of one State. 

" Despots and kings shall his pure virtues eye 
With envy, and shall feel ancestral light 
Depart their crowns, beside the purer ray 
Of his made royalty. — And e'en the Great 
Of other times — skilled heroes, statesmen, aye. 
Philosophers — shall stir beneath their weight 
Of long-pressed clay, one Greater Man to venerate — 
Who took, resigned, with equal hand the car of State ! 

" From Morn's first wave that on the rocky cape 
Doth spread its pearls, to evening's distant beach. 
Where sinking suns their good-night blessings drop 
On nature's lap, shall The Republic reach. 
Vast lakes, as seas shall northward guard and shape 
Its boundaries — its southern ear the speech 

Of S23anish lips shall hear. — Spreading through years more 
wide, 

Its lines shall westward grow and on its southern side. 



280 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" Each sep'rate State shall its own laws maintain 
And rights, united still the parts to form 
One common Whole. Thus doubly propped, the reign 
Of Liberty shall bear strong passion's storm 
At home, and on her fortresses in vain 
Shall strike exotic wrath. Itself e'er warm, 
Thus doth the heart far distant parts with blood supply, 
Each limb and member taxed to keep the fountain high. 



" Religion unrestrained, shall o'er this Land 
Shed its first dews again, pure in its creed, 
As when in Gralilee with lifted hand. 
The Son of Mary cast its pristine seed. 
No edicts of the State with legal band 
Its doctrines shall restrain, or seek to wed 
By ties incestuous. Salvation to the will 
Of godless men. Its power alike shall feel 



" The lowly and the great on equal terms, 
More wide its gate, or narrower to none. 
All births and stations held within its arms 
One brotherhood shall form — one living throne 
Of holy hearts. — As tares 'mid wheat, the germs 
Of discord may 'twixt brethren rise — but soon, 
As wave on yielding wave, pure Charity shall rest — 
All hearts one sea of love with heaven upon its breast. 



AMEEICA DISCOVEKED. 281 

" The arts of life, intelligence and trade 
Shall here their zenith reach. Ah, 'twould be vain 
The endless catalogue to fill, or shade 
Gf genius to invade, whence from the brain 
On glowing thought, through centuries are made, 
Of ideas first material forms, to gain 
O'er inert matter power. Obsequious all, all things 
By Science called, to human life shall yield swift wings. 



"Where now the Indian roves, unskilled to bend 
Created agencies to human use. 
Intelligence shall raise from forests, winii ; 
And e'en the lightning's breath, vast means profuse, 
Nature to quicken, and her strong powers blend 
With human skill. The \jilderness shall lose 
Its quiet, and the mountains hear and lowly vales. 
Commerce and trade rebounding o'er the glist'ning rails. 



" The air shall be intelligent ; as thought 
Its leagues shall track electrical with speed. 
Far distant minds, 1^ airy magic brought 
In contact, shall commune, and often shed 
For griefs or joys commingling tears, as at 
One household shrine. Thus o'er dull matter led 
Pure spirit shall preside, and mountains, vales and woods, 
Be peopled o'er with mortal, not immortal gods. 



282 AMERICA DISCOVERED. 

" O'er seas remote shall spread its commerce wide, 
Higli 'mid the flags of Europe, Asia, found 
Its Stripes and Stars. These shall revere when eyed, 
The hearts and tongues of other lands, profound • 
Their homage to the Badge, that oft defied, 
From tyranny protects and foes around, 
The freedom of the world. Thus, where her laws are not, 
Her lifted Sign shall teach the freeman's happy lot. 



" As struggling 'mid dark hills the rising sun, 
O'er meadow, lakes, and smiling fields beyond, 
Pours his glad ray ; so, o'er each lifted throne 
'Twixt crowns and blazing heraldry, this Land 
The light of Freedom shall project, where groan 
Oppressed in vales of poverty, who stand 
Disfranchised of their rights. Beneath the radiant beam 
Strong hearts within shall bound, for ever broke the dream 



" Of rights divine opposed to human weal. 
Oceans of blood shall flow, old usages 
To tear from their strong holds, a||d wounds to heal. 
That through long centuries have bled. But these — 
Ah rich the price — e'en these, as one last meal 
To Tyranny, shall Freedom grant, and choose, 
One age to sacrifise, all ages thence to free 
From yoke, resisted not, that binds eternally." 



AMEEICA DISCOVERED. 283 

He said ; and from the prison's darkness drew 
His radiance. Nor rest, nor quiet more 
The prisoner felt, till Phoebus on the dew 
Once more began his golden shower to pour. 
But Thought, deep Thought around him drew 
Its shroud, as o'er the past, the future more. 
He sought entranced God's untold Providence to scan, 
His own strange life, and future destiny of man. 



THE END. 



ERRATA 



On page 9, line 9, for wide read wild. 
" 17, " 21, " friends " fiends. 
" 28, " 8, " beam " beams. 
" 34, " 8, " frown " brown, 
« 67, " 17, " O'er « O'er-passed. 
" 92, " 1, " forest " forests. 

" 94, for the 6th line, " Do they for me and blue-eyed Ella care ? 
« 94, line 20, for on " 'fore. 
" 94, " 20, " nervous ear read critic eye. 

" 94, « 22, " here " nigh. 

« 158, " 2, " friend " fiend. 



I 



